Lawmaker to convene White House Office of Nat’l Drug Control Policy, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency and others to discuss comprehensive strategy to address opioid addiction, prevent overdoses

Washington (August 04, 2014) – With drug overdoses now claiming more lives than car accidents nationwide, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) will convene in Boston the heads of the major federal agencies responsible for addressing substance abuse in order to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the heroin and prescription drug epidemic plaguing Massachusetts. Earlier this month, the Obama administration released its blueprint for addressing substance use disorders, which calls for an enhanced focus on preventing overdoses from heroin and prescription drugs. In March, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency in the wake of rising opioid addictions and overdose deaths.

WHO: Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)

Michael Botticelli, Acting Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Cheryl Bartlett, Mass. Department of Public Health Commissioner

Steven Tompkins, Sheriff, Suffolk County

Daniel Conley, District Attorney, Suffolk County

Felix Arroyo, Chief, City of Boston Health & Human Services

Kate Walsh, President & CEO, Boston Medical Center

WHAT: Press conference with federal, state and local leaders on heroin and prescription drug addiction and treatment

WHEN: 11AM, Wednesday, August 6, 2014

WHERE: FGH Building, 1st floor, Boston Medical Center, 820 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA