WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Richard Hanna (R-22nd District) is backing proposed federal legislation aimed at combating opioid abuse, addiction and deaths across the country.

According to Hanna, Upstate New York has seen a spike in opioid addiction, namely heroin and prescription pain pills. It’s a trend that’s occurring in communities across the nation, he said, and deserves the attention of elected officials to help curtail the dangers.

“No community is immune to this crisis,” Hanna said, adding that Republicans and Democrats in the House are working together to curb opioid abuse. “Heroin and pain pill addiction does not discriminate on age, race, gender or socioeconomic status. Your neighbor could be using heroin, or so could their high-honors high school students. The problem is very real, it is here, and it is a full-blown health crisis.”

Among 18 individual bills passed by the House last week was a proposal to provide grants for law enforcement-sponsored pre-booking diversion programs, which offer treatment for low level drug offenders instead of incarceration. Early results show that such programs can reduce drug use and recidivism among participants and lead to long-term savings for local law enforcement and courts, who can then focus on more serious violent criminals.