¶ … Public Hearing -- Heroin Epidemic The hearing attended for this paper was on Tuesday, August 26, from 9:30 A.M. To twelve noon. It was held at the Penn State Schuylkill, which is a campus that is part of Pennsylvania State University in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. Schuylkill Haven is located in Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania.

The purpose of the hearing was to present a formal, public discussion on a serious and growing drug problem in the county. Specifically, the hearing was focused on the serious problem in the community of heroin and opioid addiction, and what can be done about it. Also the hearing was held to discuss not just the problems of addiction -- and evidence to support that issue -- but also to bring to the audience's attention preventative measures that can be taken, or are being taken, whether adequate or not in the present context.

This was an opportunity for some elected officials to engage in dialogue with the community -- though there was a question and answer format, participants were asked to keep their comments to two minutes -- and to show those in attendance, and in the media, that these public officials had great concern about the drug problem and were committed to doing something about it. There was a minimum of what you might call "grandstanding" -- politicians bragging about what they have done to help prevent heroin and opioid addiction, especially among young people -- and the focus was clearly on the present realities of the problem, and on the potential solutions that could be initiated.

Details of the Hearing Process

After opening greetings, announcements, and general remarks presented by State Representative Jerry Knowles, who represents several counties in the 124th Legislative District (Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill), Knowles made some initial comments, including these remarks: "It's an epidemic, and this growing problem must be stopped." Knowles said there would be time for questions after the testimony, and for people to write down their questions and an usher...

She talked about the number of arrests related to heroin sales and usage in the county. She offered a recap of what the county has been doing; along with sheriff's department officials and members of the District Attorney's office, the county has taken a role of advocacy by going out to public schools and talking to children about the problem. Holman didn't minimize the problem nor did she suggest that it was under control. Rather, she called on parents, teachers, neighbors and members of faith communities to participate in prevention programs.
Important Testimony Offered at the Hearing

Neal Goodman was introduced (he is the State Representative for the 123rd Legislative District) and reminded the audience that this is "…a bipartisan issue. I think all of us, on a daily basis, see how this epidemic has spread not just throughout the county, but throughout the commonwealth." He said the "best way" to "get in front of this" is by "educating the public" and for elected leaders to be working with a diverse number of citizen in every walk of life.

Gary Tennis, who is secretary for the state Department of Drug and Alcohol programs, indicated that he had never seen an epidemic so widespread as the heroin problem is today. "The number or prisons and jails we have today are the consequences of a failed healthcare policy in the area of drug and alcohol addiction treatment." While Goodman had said this is not a partisan issue, Tennis sounded a bit partisan when he said there has been a "lack of resources" and treatment programs over the past twenty years have been "dwindling away and dwindling away" in the state. Tennis added that seventy percent of crime in Pennsylvania is driven by illicit drug usage.

The audience, a nearly full house, was very attentive. When it came time for Michael Ogden to speak, the program director for the Bridge Program in Philadelphia said, using an…