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Perry listens to witness testimony to learn more about coordinating federal, state and local resources to combat the opioids crisis. The full hearing is available to watch here.

Harrisburg, PA – Congressman Scott Perry continued his efforts to curb the opioid abuse crisis. Perry, chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, held a field hearing at the State Capitol to hear from officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and State and Local law enforcement. The hearing was designed to share information and better understand how federal resources at the DHS can amplify efforts to combat opioids on a local level.

“We can’t fight this crisis without help. It takes coordination between agencies, information sharing, and partnership to comprehensively stop the flow of illegal opioids and heroin into our communities,” said Perry. “We're grateful for the work of the Pennsylvania State Police, District Attorney David Sunday and all of our partners who have come together to solve this problem.”

The Subcommittee heard testimony from representatives of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, York County District Attorney David Sunday, and Raymond Singley, Pennsylvania State Police Director of the Bureau of Records and Identification.

The hearing also included a tour of the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center, which helps gather and analyze information, and crack down on drug trafficking - including heroin, counterfeit prescription drugs and synthetic opioids such as the particularly lethal fentanyl.

Since 1999, the annual number of overdose deaths due to opioids has more than quadrupled, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC also reports that more than 40% of all deaths in 2016 involved opioids, including 4,627 deaths in Pennsylvania.

Last week, the House of Representatives considered nearly 40 bills for consideration on the opioid crisis. The House is expected to consider another set of proposals in the coming week.

For more information and a full list of efforts undertaken by the Congress to treat and combat opioid abuse, please visit https://www.opioidcrisis.gop/.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Please call 1-800-662-4357 or visit https://apps.ddap.pa.gov/gethelpnow/ to find Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services near you.