Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, SAMHSA Regional Administrator Kathryn Power to join Senator in call for more resources for treatment, expanded availability of naloxone to help first responders prevent drug overdoses

Washington (March 6, 2014) – As Hampden and Hampshire counties report more than 30 heroin deaths since November, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congressman Richard Neal (D-Springfield) will be joined by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) Regional Administrator Kathryn Power, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and other local and state officials to discuss expanding the use of drug treatments to prevent opiate overdose deaths and mobilizing federal funding to expand detox treatment. Senator Markey also will be joined by local leaders, first responders, and treatment providers from Holyoke and the surrounding area to talk about supporting innovative systems for treatment on demand and detox.

WHAT: Press conference to discuss heroin and prescription drug abuse threat in Western Massachusetts

WHO: Senator Edward J. Markey 

Congressman Richard Neal

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse

SAMHSA Regional Administrator Kathryn Power

Holyoke Health Center CEO Jay Breines

Mass. Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Deputy Director Lydie Ultimo

Hampden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni

Hampden Sheriff Mike Ashe 

Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan

Learn2Cope Holyoke Chapter Director Marcy Julian

WHEN: 12pm, Friday, March 7, 2014

WHERE: Holyoke Health Center, 230 Maple Street, Holyoke, Mass.