Issue Position: Bud Cook's Plan for Fighting The Drug Epidemic

Issue Position

Pennsylvania's heroin and substance abuse epidemic continues to grow. Heroin addiction does not discriminate. People of all ages, races and income levels are fighting addiction to prescription painkillers and heroin. Bud Cook is already working to find solutions that will help save lives, strengthen families and improve our communities. During the last year, Bud has met thousands of business leaders and residents in our communities. Through conversations with law enforcement, emergency service personnel, business owners, medical professionals and families, Bud has outlined a plan to tackle the drug crisis plaguing our communities.

STRENGTHENING PREVENTION

Drug Monitoring Programs -- Four in five new heroin users started out misusing prescription painkillers. Bud supports increasing drug-monitoring programs at the state, county and local levels to make sure individuals are not being over prescribed painkillers.
Drug Education -- Most adolescents who misuse painkillers get them from a friend or relative. This is one of the reasons why Bud supports increasing our education efforts in our communities and our schools. Parents, grandparents and children need to be made aware of the tragedies that occur when people innocently share left over prescription drugs.
Drug Take Back Programs -- Getting unused prescription drugs and illegal drugs like heroin off of our streets is a key component to stemming the tide of the drug crisis. Law enforcement is stretched too thin for us to arrest our way out of this problem. Bud supports organized drug take back programs by law enforcement with no questions asked so that those seeking help do not need to worry about being arrested if they are voluntarily turning over their drugs whether it be heroin or prescription painkillers.
PROVIDING RESOURCES TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS

Provide Opioid Overdose Training -- Our police, fire fighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) usually witness firsthand the devastating effects that the heroin crisis has on our communities, families and individuals. Bud Cook supports providing extensive opioid overdose training for our first responders and medical professionals including school nurses.
Increase Availability of Naloxone -- Bud Cook will work to empower properly trained first responders, medical professionals and individuals with the life saving overdose reversal drug naloxone. Bud Cook will work with local elected officials and the Department Drug and Alcohol and the Department of Health to make sure that our communities are able to obtain naloxone with grants and other funding options as long as the proper training is provided so that it can be administered in a safely and responsibly.
IMPROVING SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

Intervention Programs -- Bud believes that we cannot reduce the increasing numbers of overdose deaths from prescription painkillers and heroin without realizing that addiction and a failure to treat it lie at the heart of the problem. Bud Cook supports providing additional resources for treatment of those struggling with addiction.
PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN & WORKFORCE WITH OPPORTUNITIES

Job Creation & Economic Development -- Bud believes that we need better promotion of the Mon Valley to attract jobs. More jobs and opportunities will lead to hope and promise and a less reliance on drugs to make individuals feel good. Bud will work to make our area more attractive to businesses and opportunities. His number one priority is helping to create jobs for our area.
Youth Outreach & Mentoring Programs -- Washington and Fayette counties have an abundance of natural resources and potential activities for our residents. Bud believes that investing in programs to promote rails to trails and water trails will enhance hiking and fishing in our region. These programs would provide many individuals, including our children, with activities and opportunities that may take the place of drugs and alcohol use.
STRENGTHENING LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS

State Drug Task Forces -- Ending the heroin crisis must include stopping the supply of drugs coming into our communities. Bud will advocate for additional resources for our state drug task forces, which provide funding for local and county law enforcement efforts as well as statewide efforts. This will provide our local communities with additional tools to arrest drug dealers and make our communities safer.
Increased Penalties for Those Responsible for Overdoses -- Bud Cook is supportive of measures that would give prosecutors and law enforcement more tools to punish drug dealers who ultimately are responsible for overdoses. Bud is supportive of efforts such as the recent legislation introduced by State Senator Camera Bartolotta, which would strengthen penalties for drug dealers who sell illicit drugs that result in serious bodily injury such as permanent disfigurement or loss of a body part or organ. Pennsylvania currently lacks a statute pertaining to serious bodily injury from an overdose. This legislation would give District Attorneys the tool to seek convictions in state courts instead of getting backlogged in the Federal Court system.

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