U.S. Rep. Costello Hosts Roundtable On Opioid Abuse At Montco Community College

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA 6) hosted a roundtable discussion at Montgomery County Community College on July 26 to address the continuing opioid epidemic throughout the region.

The event, open to the public, touched on the need to increase epidemic awareness.

Costello is a member of the bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic in Congress and has spoken at length on the issue before.

The panel included Executive Director Michael Barnes of the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence, Director of Prevention & Education Beth Mingey of Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems, President/CEO Robert Radie of Egalet Corporation and Dr. David Lichten of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Montgomery County Community College said in a news release.

Costello noted that there were nearly 2,500 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2014.

Speakers also touched on how easily prescription opioids can be misused, especially when taken in large doses or in combination with other drugs.

The panel also discussed the importance of following up on overdose survivors to help provide long-term treatment and prevention of relapses.

For questions and concerns about substance abuse, visit http://www.nopetaskforce.org.