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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2010
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**MEDIA ADVISORY**
Senators to Unveil Bipartisan "Methadone Accountability Package"
Wednesday, May 26, Capitol Media Center
Harrisburg – A
group of lawmakers and advocates will unveil a bipartisan package of legislation
Wednesday overhauling Pennsylvania's methadone treatment laws to increase fiscal
accountability and safety, and reduce the unlawful use of methadone and
methadone poisoning deaths.
Discussing their
legislation will be Sen. Kim Ward (R-39), Sen. John Eichelberger (R-30), Sen.
Mike Stack (D-5) and Sen. Don White (R-41). Also participating will be Marti
Hottenstein, who helped found Helping America Reduce Methadone Deaths (HARMD)
after the death of her son.
The news conference
will take place Wednesday, May 26, at 10 a.m. in the East Wing Capitol
Media Center.
The measures making
up the Methadone Accountability Package address the illegal diversion of
methadone from treatment uses; methadone use and highway safety; and
accountability in government-sponsored treatment, including cost to taxpayers,
open-ended treatment, overdoses and deaths.
- The National Drug Intelligence Center reported a 109 percent increase in the
unlawful diversion of methadone from 2003 to 2007.
- The National Center for Health Statistics found that, from 1999-2005, the
number of poisoning deaths involving methadone increased 468 percent, and
the rate of methadone deaths in younger individuals (age 15 to 24) increased
eleven-fold.
- The increase in methadone use and abuse has also affected highway
safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that
a single dose can cause reductions in reaction time, visual acuity and
information processing.
CONTACT:
Vicki Wilken
(717) 787-6063
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