Submitted
Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has recently been named a vice chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force along with Congressman Donald Norcross, a Democrat from South Jersey.
Fitzpatrick, before his work in politics, served as an emergency medical technician, an FBI special agent and drug crime federal prosecutor.
“Opioid addiction and abuse is nothing short of an epidemic,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “From the toll it takes on our communities and families, to the strain on local leaders and law enforcement, this crisis is too important to let partisan politics get in the way of solutions. I’m proud to serve as national vice chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and I look forward to continuing to work with the task force to do our part to eradicate this plague.”
According to Fitzpatrick’s office, the task force has been Congress’ response to address the opioid epidemic by working across the aisle to produce real solutions and expand access to treatment and recovery services, increase awareness and prevention efforts, and improve law enforcement response.
“Addiction is a disease – not a personal failure. We must come together, end the stigma and help those suffering,” said Congressman Norcross. “Addressing this growing crisis is not a red or blue issue – it’s a national health and national security issue. The soaring rise in deaths, fueled by heroin and prescription painkillers, now kills more Americans than car crashes, guns, terrorism or war. Our Bipartisan Heroin Task Force is rightfully working together to curb this terrible epidemic and I look forward to helping lead the discussion as a vice-chair.”
Fitzpatrick has made fighting the drug problem in his district a priority.
Since its inception, the task force has grown to over 85 members.
