Congressman Bob Latta sat down with Ohio Northern University pharmacy students and pharmacists from around the area for a roundtable discussion about opioid issues from the view of pharmacies.
“We're seeing more not less happening with more people becoming addicted. It's not one of these things where it's not just over there, it's everywhere,” says Latta.
Latta believe ONU's pharmacy program provides resources necessary for students to make an impact on the epidemic in the future.
“It's good to hear from them because they're at the ground level," states Latta. "To hear what they think we should be doing and how we can address the issue. It's great having the students being trained here and being trained to know what to look for. They have that professionalism.”
Treatment options and facilities emerged as one of the main points of the roundtable, something Latta understands completely.
“There's been dollars under what we did with 21st Century Cures, passed in the last Congress. We passed what they called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Those dollars are out there, I think $26 million dollars coming into Ohio" explains Latta.
Congressman Latta states local discussions help guide officials in Washington to figure out major solutions moving forward.
“What Washington wants to hear is what's happening around the country and what's working," says Latta. "Also, when you look at the news in the last month or two, you're seeing different counties and cities in our area are out looking at what they can do. It's important that it's a ground up, not a top down.”
