Markey Probes Heroin, Prescription Drug Abuse

Massachusetts U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey will meet today with state and federal authorities seeking to address substance abuse and develop a strategy on a heroin and prescription drug epidemic in the Bay State.

Markey has scheduled a press conference in Boston with officials from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Drug Enforcement Agency, and with other officials including Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett. Last March, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency in the wake of rising opiate addictions and overdose deaths. Recently, the Obama Administration released a blueprint for addressing substance abuse use disorders.