[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HEROIN ABUSE

  (Mr. FOSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the grave epidemic 
of heroin abuse. The media has shone a bright light on this issue this 
week, but for too many in my district, heroin abuse is all too common. 
The number of heroin deaths that we have seen in the counties I 
represent has been staggering.
  In Kane County, Illinois, there were 20 heroin-related deaths in 
2013. In Will County, there were 35. DuPage County reported 46 heroin-
related deaths, including one period last summer when 15 overdose 
deaths were reported in just 17 days.
  Heroin abuse affects people of every race, income and education 
level. These are mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors.
  Community leaders are working to fight back, and, yet, at the Federal 
level we have not only failed to increase our efforts to combat drug 
abuse, we have reduced resources. Funding for the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration was cut by over $210 million in 
2013. The DEA's budget was cut by nearly $120 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we cannot ignore this epidemic 
which is ravaging our country.

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