PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said he is “begging” the state legislature to act on the opioid epidemic, after touring the devastation those drugs have brought to Kensington.
"It was an incredibly sad and depressing venture," said Wolf about his experience there Thursday. He said the situation in Kensington is just part of a larger problem.
"20% of overdose deaths have been in Philadelphia. 80% [more] all across Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is not alone. Kensington is not alone."
Wolf said the state was making progress before the COVID-19 pandemic, but he feared the legislature’s refusal to approve his most recent opioid disaster declaration will hurt efforts to regain a foothold in the battle against the epidemic.
"It was working. A 20% reduction in overdose deaths, as a result of what we were doing, working together during those disaster declarations," said Wolf.
"I’m actually begging the General Assembly. Let’s get back to that partnership, and let’s get back to the progress we were making."
He specifically wants the legislature to codify some of the programs that went away when his emergency declaration did. Those programs included the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which curbed painkiller prescriptions that are often the root of opioid addiction.
"We need to do more, more money, more programs, more help. So let’s work together. Pennsylvania expects that of us," the governor said.
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Community leaders joined the governor, each with their own horror stories and potential solutions.
Senator Tina Tartaglione endorsed a drug court, where those arrested for buying illegal opioids would have to go into treatment or get sentenced to jail.
"We need to do this because they’re not accountable," said Tartaglione. "They can do whatever they want and there are no consequences."
There is a small program already in Municipal Court, but Tartaglione said it needs dedicated funding to handle the size of the problem in Kensington.
