Columbia Spy

Mary Auker-Endres, Democratic Party candidate for PA State Representative, 98th District, is one of the first 65 PA candidates to date to endorse the Opioid Crisis Action Network’s policy platform which would mandate medical best practices treatment be provided to those suffering from substance use disorder and that this level of care be covered by private health insurance policies, Medicaid and Medicare.

OCAN is pleased to report that Mary Auker-Endres supports our five-plank policy platform mandating (1) coverage of a long-term continuum of care of no less than ninety days (2) coverage of medication-assisted treatment (3) that no patient suffering from effects of substance use disorder reporting to a treatment facility be refused treatment, whether or not he or she is intoxicated (4) the regulation of sober living homes and (5) that all prisons provide drug treatment programs adhering to medical best practices.

Auker-Endres and 64 other PA leaders (so far) recognize that providing and covering the cost of anything less than medical best practices is a gross violation of a 2008 federal law, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which mandated an end to discriminatory practices against the mentally ill and addicted. OCAN admires these leaders for standing up to powerful special interests, most notably private insurance companies and their political action committees (PACS), that seem to have a stranglehold on legislatures nationwide, preventing these common sense reforms.

The Opioid Crisis Action Network (OCAN) was founded in January, 2018, by Heather and Larry Arata after the overdose death of their 23-year-old son, Brendan, to research and promote solutions to this public health emergency. Over 72,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2017, up 7% from 2016 and double the total from a decade ago. OCAN will also write grants for those suffering from substance use disorder who cannot afford treatment. Checks will be written to state certified treatment centers. For more details, to see the other 91 candidates nationwide who have endorsed OCAN’s platform so far or to make a donation, go to opioidcrisisactionnetwork.com.

Columbia Borough Police Chief Jack Brommer presented a report to council last week detailing several recent drug-related investigations in and around Columbia. The Columbia Borough Police Department worked closely with the Lancaster County Drug Task Force on these investigations:

• A search warrant was issued and a search conducted on the 500 block of Avenue N (near Makle Park). As a result, two subjects were arrested and later sent to Lancaster County Prison for possession with intent to deliver of over 200 grams of methamphetamine (street value: $23,000) and 160 bags of heroin. A loaded, stolen 9mm pistol was also recovered. 

• As a result, a second investigation was undertaken outside the borough, and a second search warrant was served. 75 grams of bulk heroin was recovered (street value: $22,500), representing approximately 2,250 bags of heroin. A 12-gauge shotgun was also recovered. 

• A raid was also conducted in late September on the 900 block of Manor Street, in which one subject arrested, and heroin and other drugs were recovered, along with a gun.

 The September 2018 police report is shown below: