Transcripts For CSPAN2 Oversight Hearing On Drug Control Policy 20151203

Or thousands of these request that same old this person and they cannot in good faith for coated must release them. And yet we still have more money going to i. C. E. , of officers whose unions are tied and that communities are risk. The simple question. So what happens if the person is reckless driving as the officer approaches to find out the individual is illegally in the country . What happens . That the town hall people say turn them over to the feds for deportation Security Officer say they will not even Pay Attention unless there is multiple offenses. That is absolutely the case. If he is doing his duty. Thats correct. But to protect those local citizens they will not come get them. Correct. How would you comment on this situation . Have you given any thought to that . I have. First, the code of federal regulation is very clear and says was the local Law Enforcement officer receives a dictator from i. C. E. They shall maintain custody for no more than 48 hours the is but there is the expectation to maintain custody. Congress has given i. C. E. The authority to issue the detainers and the expectation is they should be complied with and more than 90 percent of the sheriffs and the country want to comply even the police chief in the selfdescribed sanctuary jurisdictions have testified they comply fully with all i. C. E. Detainers better issued so it isnt a question to be illegal or unconstitutional. They are an accepted lawful instrument for i. C. E. To use for those to pursue with deportation so the problem is the Obama Administration has introduced confusion by changing decades of the interpretation of the regulations that they have for congress now all of a sudden said this is just a request would be for there always considered obligatory of course, a sheriff would always honor a detailed request from the u. S. Marshals, where u. S. Military police or the appropriation office if one of those agencies issued a request there would not think twice but just the fact is Immigration Enforcement that makes it controversial. The administrations policy was done without any bagel foundation over the objections over there very senior career people at that agency. To the extent there is any confusion in my opinion they have instigated that confusion with the administration with the goal to the goal action and it could have been solved with a sanctuary bill that you wrote and introduced. That is the answer. 287g officers have of unity that could be offered to any Law Enforcement officer receives the detainer from ice. That is something we need to solve. I. C. E. Issues that before theyre released that are they willing to turn the person over . Oftentimes they do provide the detail her before they are due to be released. Eight can solve part of problem. But the biggest problem is after that timeline over 90 percent of the time there is no i. C. E. Officer to collect the individual or customs our Border Patrol and the sheriff can no longer hold the individual they must be released. Thank you. Dr. Of a bike tuesday on the tradeoff that you mentioned the relationship with enforcement and Public Safety one of the main differences with the Priority Enforcement Program as of predecessor is that pep in the mitt certain forms of cooperation between dhs and local Law Enforcement agencies. How does the pep program work with this . How does it enhance Public Safety . Thank you. The program relies on the exact same information sharing and to identify potentially removable noncitizens who are arrested. It tries to respond to two different problems that secure communities a majority of the people deported never committed a crime or a minor offenses that was the first career four years of the program that is was generated such a broad backlash and not just San Francisco or new york there are hundreds of cities and towns around the country atlanta, a wichita kansas kansas, led the maintained that pep does you all may take custody of those to come through the criminalJustice System if they have committed a serious crime. Instead of someone who was pulled over because that is what generated the backlash. It allows communities to negotiate because Many Police Chiefs that represent all large city police and many other organizations have argued to have those mandates to compromise the efforts of those departments that have strong relationships with their communities to do policing so they cannot report crimes or cooperate so many a jurisdictions have found there rather have more limited cooperation. Is there any data about Public Safety or a certain approach . We dont have data on pep it is only in existence six months but there are some big studies of the security to secure committee as it was rolled out it had no discernible impact it is always ben Immigration Enforcement program. I just met century cities forces and on and the whole point is to build trust with the committee and on a macro level what effect has that had is any data regarding that . Record i have not seen that data. Some of my colleagues have argued that i. C. E. Removals we have recently season seed is supporting fewer people but what accounts for these removal numbers and what does it say of the overall state of enforcement . If you look at the overall numbers there remain at record high levels 1 2 to eight dash four the year 2014 there were four more removals the administration has removed over 400,000 every year since 2010 and every year the administration there has been more removals then in the year of Prior Administration but now we see a sharp increase suborder removal of border removal they have been shifted to respond to the Child Migration surge with the big increase coming from Central America almost all of those in the formal removal proceedings so also there are resources to combat the smugglers better at the heart of the flows but looking at the numbers to evaluate security unauthorized immigrants are down by 1 million it is a sustained drop the first time we have seen a drop after 40 years of increases now a seven your drop and border applicants also had a sustained drop looking at traditional and authorized immigrants for those apprehended at the border but then the numbers continue to drop. Increase still see pure apprehensions. I am out of time may ask your indulgence . I think it is a short answer. Senator cruz cited 12 million deportations during the Clinton Administration. You just said there were more deportations in each of the gears of the Obama Administration than previously. My math says it does not compute. That is pretty good man math. I did not go to m. I. T. But i was good at math. 12 million over eight years even i can understand that. I think senator cruz was talking about border returns with the your years we had huge volumes of border apprehension because the security is not as good as it is now an 95 or more were turned around so with the Clinton Administration there probably were 12 million maybe not that high but there were Border Apprehensions not quite that high a probably a little off but the number of removals of formal return to deportations over the course of the full eight years were probably between 400,000. So the numbers he was doing apples and oranges. Yes. Formal removal of verses turned away at the border. Yes. Prior to the Bush Administration and the highest removal ever was and below 100,000. When he brought that up i knew something was not right. Thank you for your indulgence and all of you for your service. What did happen with the number began to plummet as part of their removal it was a misrepresentation to hide behind the weakness that was occurring. But they ask for enough money but yet in 2014 the only removed 315,000 and 2015 only 235,000 and only 63 were criminal. Them guessing they are counting border removal numbers can you briefly comment . First of on the issue of the Chilling Effect there are some excellent studies done rather radical operation of agencies compromises Community Policing and it is clear that isnt supported by the data or the surveys of the Actual Experience so there is a lot of reformation available but with deportation they were talking about anyone deported by i. C. E. Or Border Patrol. He was counting apples and oranges against the apples and oranges count hundred the Obama Administration i believe it is entirely consistent with the office of immigration statistics has reported in the annual your book. I think it is pretty accurate but the Obama Administration did differently but they started to take Border Patrol cases that formerly was counted as a return to process as a removal so that would bring up artificially the number city or not counting all deportations. If mexicans cross the border on lawfully then they can be stopped at the border and immediately sent back . The accelerated way is through expedited removal. But when people come from Central America, they can claim asylum, they cannot immediately be sent back to mexico so theyre in the united states. And what i hear is they turn themselves to the officers to say take care of that and what happens frequently . Yes. From what i hear is they turn themselves in and Border Patrol is required under current interpretation to turn the families and children over to Refugee Resettlement to process as unaccompanied minor of the familys offer the opportunity to apply for asylum and then to appear at a Court Hearing in the future so it is a generous for multiprocessor they could get that to expedited removal like any other crops are but the choice is made to allow them to have a hearing rather than use expedited removal. Defect. Normally the asylum claim comes later. Mike understanding is when we have the huge flow increase which you are sending a message to Central America you have to turn yourself in. They claim they were running advertisements in Central America but they didnt change the policy. Now were having another surge as the top officers stated you normally see a decline at this time of the year but it is still increasing. So what is your opinion with regard to the necessity to have a clear immigration policy . Before somebody leaves their home to put themselves at risk tollgate need to know there will be apprehended and they will be deported . Or we could have a plummeting of the attempt. What theyre telling the Border Patrol is they came because they knew they would be allowed to stay so we need to change that incentive to change the policy they get Text Messages on facebook with pictures of the notice to appear to send back to friends and family in their home country so people are coming because they know they are allowed to stay and unless it changes they will keep coming. They dont Pay Attention to the law on the books they are worried about what will happen in under the current circumstances they will be turned over to Law Enforcement for a secure place for family members or others. Are you familiar with the 287g . I am. I remember when that got started you were to the Bush Administration and they were a little slow they get nervous so they have to have a big Training Program they can arrest the mayor of the town but not somebody who was a legal in the country but anyway. And the bill was passed and they added 287g contracts which is essentially taught the local Law Enforcement what they could do and how to cooperate in identify criminals. It has declined by more than half certainly it should have been nationwide in almost every jurisdiction. It is staggering because that number will go even lower. There are two principal problems in particular for the sheriffs to participate in 287g. It is an exorbitant cost to the jail operations because they have to convert the facilities and as you know, that is an enormous financial burden on a few dipodies was that originally the situation . Get was not. Alabama was one of the first dates to be approved. That cost can be staggering if you look at the border counties texas to california with the exception of san diego county, the cost to be compliant with bankrupt that sheriff. Talking about new facilities, a close, beds, a Security Camera systems, of the training alone for the deputy to understand the programs requires 14 days away from the office to be compliant in the i. C. E. Training procedures it is a staggering cost in the 287g program there are very limited funds to reimburse when they have to pay their own expense. Absolutely. was sitting here looking up that discussion my head almost exploded given directly to the sheriff will put a right into the requirements we would be glad to help the federal government. Fabulous. Now if there is an incentive if you have a bad person you want him removed from the country but i thought the federal government could spend more money without that was awfully long. Is 14 business days. Five weeks. A think thats right. It is staggering. And learn how to handle yourself. In eight i was in arizona one of the most remote counties in the country and the highest transit point for illegal immigration. 16 sheriffs deputies if they participated in the 287g behalf to be out of the office to meet the training requirements that cost is borne by the county not i. C. E. They may tie it one dash paid lodging or the air fare but the deputies are not doing their job but now our training so the share fast to pay overtime to cover. So if it is a financial backbreaking exercise. We met last week and this is an issue we have to fix and there is a solution there. We will work with you for whatever it takes but 113 million is returned and reprogrammed because they didnt spend it when sheriffs and counties are going broke, send us the money directly dont give it to the governor sent it to west. I think that is good advice. With 2 million criminal aliens in the country, it seems to me the administration utilized the expanded 287g to identify any of those and now they commit to other crimes on a regular basis is that a concern . Most definitely. About half of those are at large and that is an estimate that i. C. E. Came up with when the program got rolling. It isnt so much finding criminal aliens because they get the alert when the fingerprint is taken if they match but the problem is also that many of those illegal aliens are not known yet because as they crossed the border illegally they were not apprehended so there is nothing to match and in some places i was told by a supervisor a few years ago that rand their program said 50 percent of criminal aliens in the jail were not identified through fingerprints. Requires an interview. Some more is required in just matching fingerprints that is why have a problem with this century cities blocking access because now nobody has any idea of who these people are or where they are from or if they are removable. If they are released than they have the ability to go about their criminal activity and i. C. E. Officials will tell you 50 percent of criminal aliens released for one reason or another will go on to real friend. Thank you it is an important issue but were deliberately undermining with the Immigration Law as it encourages people to come to america of lawfully to make up mockery of those two patients the way to, denying the American People to select people by lot to improve if they serve the National Interest and it is very bad and the president has no right the legislation he wanted did not pass to carry over in this fashion and i think it demonstrated today the failure of our system in that one area promised would be pursued with criminal aliens. So there is nothing working but thank you for testifying have record will remain open for one week. We are adjourned. [inaudible conversations] if [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] spec i am here to voice my support for the courageous people of afghanistan the women and men who have suffered for years under the taliban regime. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to stop the suffering because every life in every land matters and all of us can do something now. And knowing some of them very well or that i admire very much is that the country benefits from our interest. The second woman in the American History to be the wife of one president daughterinlaw of another after the controversial election brought her husband to the white house with less than nine months in office 9 11 occurred in first lizzie lady continued her education and literacy and womens health. La bush sunday night on the original series first ladies. Examining public and private lives of those who filled the position of first lady from Martha Washington to michelle obama. She was so authentic i always felt there is more to this story than anybody had covered or more that what i had wrote. She was the first modern first lady, a staff, a project, she wrote her book as an issue left the white house and really invented the modern first lady. Ladybird johnson is a perfect example with the ambition and the opportunity and is a good example of that i had to find out more about her. The eric charged with guiding the big picture strategy of the problems here in this country and the consequences for the we can agree this needs meaningful solutions. And we as a nation have tried a variety of approaches to address the drug problem from the last reauthorization in 2006 with the specter of the drug control efforts we will look particularly since the last reauthorization that expired fiscal year 2010. There are important questions for considerations to match that evolution and what is of value of this office and earlier this year agency sent a letter to their counterparts in the senate that included proposed language for reauthorization and todays hearing will focus to discuss the proposal we also hear testimony from our witness that will talk about the work being done with the authorization and language of the high intensity referred to as to bring entities to the supply by a targeting in disrupting organizations were for mayor of very familiar with local Law Enforcement as we have one of those areas of that cooperation the only changes that would allow for the use of the funds of those efforts previously only limited for prevention efforts and nine were permitted for treatment so the hidta directors suggested a compromise but with a cap i imagine that Congressional Liaison Directors Association can provide further explanation with the proposed language summit for word to hearing from you and all the Witnesses Today and now i will recognize the Ranking Member for his opening statement. 80 for holding this hearing is an important topic the office of National Drug control policy plays a Critical Role to our epidemic where the death now outnumbers those of Car Accidents and offers the budget of 375 million incarnates the related activity totaling more than 26 billion so it is more than a little concerning not to have the formal authorization allowing that to use subsidence annual appropriations and spent nearly a of a decade as Congress Considers our policies and a great deal has changed. And sadly enough for the better. Ended has been noted that discourage a of drug abuse has no boundaries it does not recognize race or age or socioeconomic status it is vital to reach respective community i appreciate the bipartisan spirit to the approach and its proposal for real authorization many are very troubled by the spike of heroin use it used to be very static demand and no longer. In the state of virginia ed the number of people who died for maryland is on track to climb for the Third Straight year. Those deaths double in my own home county and that follows a troubling trend in the know that concern as well we have been fortunate to receive a received assistance from the program that provides grants to the enforcement agencies with drugtrafficking activities provides Community Partnerships aimed at reducing substanceabuse. Virginia has 20 counties now designated as highintensity trafficking areas their part of the Appalachian Region 16 are part of the washington and baltimore area. Historically it has been more enforcements focused biting treatment is appropriate current law caps a 5 the amount of funds used. 5 . 27 out of 28 regions support prevention activities the statute actually prohibits funds from being used with the exception of to grandfathered programs as their efforts predate the prohibition my district benefits with that exception receiving a grant of one Fulltime Position for residential treatment. Id that by percent limit does not make sense there is a lot of changes in the demand for opiates of other drugs for ill look forward to hearing more from the director about Public Health based services and the strategy the proposed language would allow the areas upon request to spend funding on treatment efforts to amount to a considerable investment alternative sentencing and Community Programs and have been successful in communities across the country. With your Law Enforcement background to acknowledge we cannot rest are with the problem and were moving toward a partnership of Public Safety and Public Health to create a more holistic approach to the challenges facing some many across america. His own personal story speaks to the power of treatment and recovery and hope we play a constructive role with the reauthorization effort and the bipartisan spirit that we have approached the testimony this morning. Me now recognize the Ranking Member of the full committee for his opening statement. Thank you very much. As i listen to mr. Connolly i cannot help but be reminded we are fully realizing that drug addiction has no boundaries. Blacks, whites, rich, pork, from one coast to another and with regards to treatment with some of the most profound words spoken here is we have got to wake up and address this as a Health Problem because what we see now with heroin, i have known about this for many years in baltimore but now it is spreading everywhere and people beginning to understand that prevention is so crucial the office of National Drug control policy has a difficult but crucial mission. The although no responsibility is simple i never presto diligently while they are task to reread efficient we are here to discuss the reauthorization with a program that i am very familiar with the mobilizes communities and includes high intensity drugtrafficking programs which operates three regional efforts of state and local and tribal Law Enforcement agencies the overall goal shows that the stakes are high to reduce the chronic range of substances loring the drugrelated death and illness despite what seems to be insurmountable obstacles theyre making progress on many fronts by engaging in all communities and in 2010 there is a crucial step to recognize that addressing drug addiction is a Public Health issue not just Public Safety to tackle the demand as well as the supply the treatment is a crucial tool to complement the efforts. I have seen up close and personal the way drug abuse can be destructive. And often say if you want to destroy a community slowly but surely do it for drugs. In baltimore i have seen entire communities fractured in a broken by drug use and landmarks become synonymous with Drug Trafficking and people in so much pain they done even though theyre in pain and hardworking citizens staggering and slumped over from the effects of addiction and white males hundreds of them , people who have lost their way. This is not the baltimore that i grew up for the baltimore i know is possible they hold this conditional so that over the years they have demonstrated treatment to complement the Law Enforcement efforts in that one of the organizations to receive 2. 5 Million Dollars to redress the heroin epidemic situation to the heroin Response Strategy. Using the wraparound approach that encompasses Law Enforcement Community Involvement it has dismantled 92 Drug Trafficking organizations seizing the marijuana and cocaine and 410 kilograms since 2013. Because of the successes i have learned their asking the congress equip all of them with the treatment tools as well im learning more about the changes proposed in what has been doing to address recommendations from the Government Accountability office. This is an issue that affects all of us. All of us of it hasnt affected you yet i promise it probably will. Whether west baltimore are the mountains in New Hampshire every community in america, eyelet forward to working with my colleagues with the reauthorization of the program is crucial to the future success and safety and health of our great nation. Thank you. I yield back. 8q for your insightful and personal words with up close and personal for all of us. I will full bar record open 45 legislative days to submit a written statement in the chair has noted the presence of the gentleman from iowa with his interest in this topic but he has stepped out for an Armed Services hearing but will be back joining us though without objection we welcome mr. Turner no objections so ordered. Employees to welcome the director. The director of the National Drug control policy and the Congressional Liaison at the National High intensity Drug Trafficking Area Association and the director of justice and Law Enforcement issues i would ask call witnesses be sworn in before they testify so please rise for courage you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony youre about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth . You may be seated let the record reflect all eight witnesses answered in the affirmative to allow time for discussion please limit testimony to five minutes with the entire statement is part of a record youre recognized for five minutes. Chairman and Ranking Member and members of the committee and subcommittee they can for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the proposed legislation it is an honor to be in this position today. Established by congress in 19 a. D. Most recently authorized by a drug control policy reauthorization act as a component to establish policies and priorities and objectives to ensure adequate resources are provided we if i wait and coordinate the domestic efforts to the extent that they complement policies. Responsible for issuing the National Drug control strategy it is the primary blueprint for drug policy to treat the Substance Abuse problems as challenges and approaching the policy since 2010. In that strategy we set Ambitious Goals for reduction of illegal drug use. Renew advancing these schools would be challenging but a careful examination Shows Progress has been made in many areas but we know we have far to go. We have moved toward achieving goals to reduce chronic cocaine a methamphetamine we have met our goals of lifetime prevalence among eighth graders and looking at polls looking at the illicit drug use refined marijuana overwhelms the data that it is not apparent in addition to our activities ministers to significant Grant Programs the highintensity drugtrafficking program and the support program created as part of the original authorization to reduce drugtrafficking by facilitating cooperation at the federal state local and tribal Law Enforcement agencies. Locally based program to response to the Drug Trafficking issues fell lawenforcement agency share information with intelligence sharing and the strategy is of Illegal Drugs there are currently programs in 40 states this provides grants to Community Coalitions enabling them to increase collaboration to prevent and reduce these issues. During fiscal year 2015 there were able to award grants to the coalition that would reauthorize for five years the proposed budgetary changes to respond to complex drug problems legislation expands production to screening for Substance Abuse disorders with access to Health Care Services to support longterm recovery it is then added making underage use of alcohol part of the responsibility. The proposed legislation extent authorization for five years and in addition with the approval of the director to provide support for their criminal Justice System to offer treatment to drug offenders upon the request of the executive board in they recommend the initiatives to provide access to treatment as part of a diversion alternative for drug offenders. We know such have proven successful to break the cycle by assisting offenders to overcome their disorders to drop o one dash also authorized prevention efforts in excess of the current 5 level. Is expenditures are driven by the need at their discretion the use of a limited amount of funds to support the Community Initiative and as we have discussed to rearrange the organizational structure from the Public Health and Public Safety staff and the new structure with the formation of a broad based issue working groups to bring together expertise. It is separate and independent and can be accomplished but however as the major issues facing our country cannot be placed me in the two categories the proposed authorization would a limited to limit the director position leadership would be overseen by the director and staff. I am glad to be here to discuss these in further detail were grateful for this support in the work to address Substance Abuse in this nation. Thank you. Youre recognized for five minutes cemetery and, remember the distinguished members of the subcommittee i am honored to appear today of the highintensity drugtrafficking program that speaks to the reauthorization specifically to the recommendations of the language establishing priorities and objectives the directors charged with the control strategy that directs the nations efforts for focused and balanced approach is an essential component the 28 original areas turned u. S. Virgin islands and the District Of Columbia to corneille antidrug abuse efforts from local and regional and National Perspectives with resources and all levels with a True Partnership at the National Level the rights policy direction and guidance for the Program Teaches governed by the executive board with equal number of agencies to provide a balanced and equal voice to develop strategy is the flexibility of model creates the executive board to adopt to an emerging threat that may be unique to create Communication Infrastructure for information sharing that could reduce this to be ocean and use of drugs. The program is multidimensional it has demonstrated its ability to bring people together to work toward a common goal and the neutrality is another key to its success as a program, not an agency nor are we beholden to the mandates of any one Agency Research to facilitate and coordinate all the Enforcement Mission remains paramount involved with all Drug Prevention activities we cannot arrest our way out is well recognized in Law Enforcement community emerging partnership between publichealth of Public Safety has never been more important than this provides that perfect platform. Seeking to break the cycle of drug abuse through treatment programs to focus to reduce crime of repeat offenders and partner with Boston University school of medicine and here youll feel like its on epidemic to the innovative use to develop a carolyn Response Strategy to provide a unique and unprecedented platform to enhance Public Health and Public Safety and collaboration. The program currently enjoy a a collaborative relationship that has never been stronger the association strongly encourages congress to reauthorize during this session to support the existing language of the act of 2015 with three exceptions. First existing authorization specifies no federal funds appropriated or for the expansion of treatment programs it would allow the director to authorize the expenditure for the treatment programs and we support this change but believe the funding should not exceed more than 10 percent of the baseline budget. In the past no more than 5 could be expanded but the new wording allows to authorize an amount greater and we support this change with the baseline budget in the language of the rises 190 3. 4 million this amounts to a 22 reduction it was severely handicapped to respectfully 445 million from the fiscal year 2015 thank you for allowing me to testify a look forward to answering your questions. Thank you for your testimony civic good morning Ranking Member and members of the staff with the gao findings on efforts to curtail use and enhance cooperation to combat drug use requested more than 27 billion to ensure the money is well spent in the various agencies are well coordinated over the years gao has helped the public how well the programs are working and it is hard to tell because agencies dont have Performance Measures but to its credit is focused time and attention and resources five years ago the National Drug control strategy has a series of goals hope to to achieve by 2015 then those measures if consistent useful for Decision Making it is important to remember when the conversation turns to what those measures tell us. According to a report issued two weeks ago none of the seven goals have been achieved and the trend line is moving in the opposite direction the eighth graders has increased rather than decrease those drugrelated deaths has increased 19 rather than decreasing 15 as planned more americans now die every year of overdose than traffic crashes it is important to recognize some progress a substantial reductions ago to back away eight craters and the prevalence of drug use by teenagers has dropped also progress in treatment programs we found a coronation across the programs was lacking 40 percent of the programs reported no coordination with other federal agencies recommended they take action to reduce the risk of duplication and improve coordination since then they have done that conducting inventory programs and updated the process to monitor the efforts to enhance coordination another report of the field based will the agency entities to enhance coronation with multi Agency Support centers there were one of five entities revered including the joint Terrorism Task force we found a row they have the same missions and roles and responsibilities that they can overlap 34 adam 37 entities had investigative support activities we also found other agencies to now hold accountable for coordination since the report they have taken an action that they have not enhanced coordination mechanisms such as serving on the governance board and it can be applied to reduce overlap. In conclusion looking at off options to reauthorize of the nature of the illicit drug use is a complex problem involving thousands of communities across livelihood across the u. S. We are ready to help congress and agencies as they work to reduce those costs for pope thank you for the opportunity to justify a look forward to your questions. I appreciate the fact your knowledge of the deficiencies but also areas where performance was a good. Pinkie for the balanced testimony we will recognize the vice chair for his five minutes of questioning. I have enjoyed my time in your district over thanksgiving. But like many areas across the country Monroe County have experienced some significant struggles against the growing tide of heroin use in in this use of medication. I am aware they have increased some efforts specifically to the heroin Response Strategy unfortunately it is limited to certain regional areas. What efforts has been undertaken to address Prescription Drug abuse and heroin abuse . There is no more pressing issue in the country right now then the brutality of Prescription Drugs and heroin part of the work continues to monitor these programs to make sure were putting resources against them in 2011 with the drug abuse planet knowledge the role that the Prescription Drugs were playing at the time including broadbased efforts for the prescribing of the medications and calling for monitoring programs of physicians would have access and working with partners at the dea to reduce the supply coming from these communities into coordinate Law Enforcement actions calling for an increase in resources that deal with the demand and we have made progress of prescription in drug misuse and a leveling off over the past several years unfortunately that is replaced by the heroine related death. Is that rare going because of reduced cost and other reasons . Appears only a very small portion to miss use progress to hear when it is only 5 but 80 started with pain medication so we know to do with that crisis it tells us to do with the Prescription Drug use issue but we also focus on how we address the issue from a comprehensive perspective it is related to very cheap and pure heroin in areas we have not seen the before we know it has been in our communities for a long time that we have not diminished the supply we have to make sure they have good evidence based care to diminish and reduce overdose and i have to say have been heartened by how lawenforcement has taken on not only reducing overdose but not a resting but shepherding them into treatment but they are accelerating with the innovative programs to get people into treatment