Senator Vogel Urges Residents to Take Part in Oct. 17 Tele-Town Hall on PA Heroin/Opioid Crisis

Pennsylvania’s heroin and opioid epidemic will be the focus of a special Telephone Town Hall meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 17th, according to Senator Elder Vogel.

Senator Elder Vogel is urging area residents to participate in the event, which is part of a statewide effort to gather information on how the growing epidemic is affecting Pennsylvania and what can be done to save lives and battle addiction. It is the second of five ‘regional’ tele-town halls scheduled around the state in the coming months.

Those interested in taking part in the discussion can sign up ahead of time at www.acommonwealthcrisis.com and receive a phone call a few moments before the town hall meeting begins. Individuals can also sign up by texting the keyword “talkheroin” to the number 828282. Audio streaming for the tele-town hall will also be available online.

The event will be moderated by Senator Gene Yaw (R-23), chair of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, and sponsored in part by Senator Vogel and other area legislators. Special guests from across the Commonwealth will answer questions about heroin and opioid addiction and what the Legislature is doing to curb the proliferation of these dangerous drugs.

Nearly 3,400 drug-related overdose deaths were reported in Pennsylvania in 2015, an increase of more than 23 percent over 2014. In approximately four out of five of those deaths, the presence of heroin or at least one opioid was reported.

Special guests for the October 17th tele-town hall include:  Barry Denk, Director, Center for Rural Pennsylvania; Dr. Nancy Falvo, Professor of Nursing at Clarion University; and Eugene A. Vittone II, District Attorney, Washington County, PA.

CONTACT:
Anthony Tammaro
atammaro@pasen.gov

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