Congress of the United States Washington, BE 20515 Janvory 13,2085 Michael Botielt Director Office of National Drug Control Potey 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW ‘Washington, D.C. 20500, Director Botticli “Thank you for your cntinuouseffo's to prevent and treat prescription drug abuse and heroin use throughout the country. As you know, no community s untouched by ths epidemic, with deaths from drug everdovee now out numbering death from motor vahilecrather. In 201A, overdose deaths Involving preserition opioids totaled 18,893 and heroin accounted for 10,574 deaths {thas come to our attenton thatthe Ofice of National Drug Control Policy wil host community forums {across the country to aderess this epidemic through discussions of best practices andevidence-ased Initiatives focused on preventing and treating prescription drug abuse and heroin use. We write today torequest a forum in Upstate New York. ‘Between 2009 and 2013, 12 upstate New York counties saw the numberof herain overdoses jump by 427 percent and in 2014, New York State hac 2,300 drug overdose deaths. These numbers are staggering and something must be done. ‘The state has taken measures to fight prescription drug abuse and heroin use by training 85,000 people touse Naloxone, a drug to reverse overdoses. Naloxone reversed 2,500 overdoses inthis past year ‘alone. New York has alsc agreed to join the National Associaton of Boards of Pharmacy Prescription ‘Monitoring Program, which wl allow New York o share data on prescription drug abuse and heroin use with other states. {tis imperative that we continue to work together to advance policy and legislation which willeur this opioid abuse epidemic. We respectfully request ull consideration of hosting 2forumin Upstate New York Sincerely, TomReed ‘Member of Congress Member of CongressClute Paul D.Tonkst z GrrisGivs ‘Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress hee Coline Member of Congress a oe Richard Hanne ‘oha Keiko ‘Member of Congress Member of Congress