×

Friedenberg for Congress

MARY BRUCE SERENE, M.D.

State College

In A March 16 letter to the editor in the Centre Daily Times, Joey Russo praises U.S. Rep. Tom Marino “for getting legislation through in DC.”

Russo should take a careful look at the results of said legislation.

According to The Washington Post, “In April 2016, at the height of the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history, Congress effectively stripped the Drug Enforcement Administration of its most potent weapon against large drug companies suspected of spilling prescription narcotics onto the nation’s streets. The chief advocate of the law that hobbled the DEA was Rep. Tom Marino, a Pennsylvania Republican.”

The pharmaceutical industry contributed $1.5 million to 23 lawmakers who sponsored or co-sponsored four versions of the bill.

Pennsylvania’s Tom Marino received nearly $100,000.

In 2016, there were 42,249 opioid-related deaths in the United States. That same year, Pennsylvania’s opioid death rate was third highest in the nation, claiming 4,642 lives. In the year since Marino’s legislation passed, Pennsylvania saw an 87% increase in opioid deaths!

Marino withdrew his name as Trump’s nominee for drug czar the day after he was reported to be the force behind the law that crippled the DEA.

Pennsylvania needs representatives in Congress who will help the DEA do its job. Marc Friedenberg, a graduate of Columbia Law School, teaches at Penn State. He will fight for a comprehensive and sustained national response to the opioid crisis. This May, I’m voting for Marc Friedenberg for Congress as if lives depend on it, because, in fact, they do.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today