web1_Joseph-Leo-HanTwpPD-03142019.jpg

Police Blotter

web1_Biasi_Dante-A-18-Xavier-MS-5448.jpg

College Corner: Hazleton Area’s Dante Biasi boosting Penn State to strong start

<p>Luzerne County Councilman Matthew Vough said the opioid epidemic has been &#8220;hitting close to home&#8221; because he personally knew some local residents who have died from drug overdoses, including fellow childhood basketball camp participants and friends.</p><p>&#8220;As a young person in my position, I feel bad because I haven&#8217;t done enough,&#8221; said the 26-year-old Pittston resident.</p><p>Stepping up to the podium during this week&#8217;s council meeting, he publicly announced his plan to travel throughout the county methodically meeting with entities and professionals involved in helping those with substance use disorder.</p><p>In addition to asking them what needs to be done and how he can help their efforts, Vough said he will be seeking success stories that he can highlight to show the problem is not hopeless.</p><p>&#8220;The only thing we hear about the opioid crisis is how many are dead,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s time to hear more about the lives that are saved, and hopefully that will encourage others to get the help that they need.&#8221;</p><p>Vough said he will share his findings once a month at council meetings and through his social media <a href="https://www.facebook.com/voughlcc17/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattvough/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> pages, which are both listed under Matt Vough.</p><p>Saying he&#8217;s also willing to be a &#8220;lifeline,&#8221; he invited those who are struggling with addiction to message him through social media or email him at Matthew.Vough@luzernecounty.org.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m here for you,&#8221; Vough said during his presentation, which generated applause in the courthouse meeting room. &#8220;If I can help you in any way, I will personally get you the help that you need. I just want to help to save as many lives as possible.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Record number of deaths</strong></p><p>There were 169 overdose deaths in the county in 2018 &#8212; the fourth consecutive year for a new record high.</p><p>Vough, who took office in January 2018, said these deaths are &#8220;devastating&#8221; to friends and family.</p><p>He said he is sitting down with representatives of the county&#8217;s drug and alcohol department next week and will schedule sessions with doctors and organizations.</p><p>A tour of the <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/735588/drug-recovery-support-center-opening-in-wilkes-barre" target="_blank">New Roots recovery support center</a>, set to open at 121 Water St. in Wilkes-Barre next month, also will be part of his itinerary, he said, describing the facility as an &#8220;amazing addition&#8221; to the area.</p><p>Designed to prevent those who have stopped using drugs from relapsing, the center will provide a walk-in place to obtain guidance or interact with others who can relate to their struggles.</p><p>Helping those who may be vulnerable and isolated in recovery so they do not relapse is a &#8220;huge issue,&#8221; Vough said.</p><p>&#8220;Places like this recovery center are a key to educating and helping those who struggle with addiction on a daily basis,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Council Vice Chairman Eugene Kelleher thanked Vough for his initiative and noted he has gleaned insight into substance use disorder from Carmen Ambrosino, a local speaker and consultant in the addiction field who had previously worked as as CEO of the nonprofit Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services Inc.</p><p>Vough said he will reach out to many because addiction is complex and some are still largely in the dark about what services are available and working to prevent deaths.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re never going to fully be able to stop it in Luzerne County, but if we can offer up as many resources as we can, that&#8217;s half the battle,&#8221; said Vough.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_voughuse..jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Vough </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_voughuse..jpg</photo0><caption0>Vough </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Councilman wants to hear about needs, challenges</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Councilman Vough seeking drug recovery success stories