(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed the National Capital Region Compact to Combat Opioid Addiction to address opioid addiction in the region. The Compact pledges the jurisdictions to work collaboratively to stop the damaging effects that the opioid epidemic is having on the lives of those addicted, their families, law enforcement, health care providers and the broader community.
“The Compact increases collaboration amongst our jurisdictions and moves us forward on a path to fight opioid addiction in our region,” said Mayor Bowser. “We must take a holistic approach to combatting substance abuse, which de-stigmatizes addiction while offering stronger training for health care providers and links our residents to services that can help get them on the path to sobriety. I thank Governor McAuliffe and Governor Hogan for coming together to take on this important issue.”
As a first step in this new collaboration, the three jurisdictions will convene a regional summit on opioid addiction and substance abuse in 2017. The Council of Governments has agreed to serve as the host for this summit.
"I want to thank Mayor Bowser and Governor McAuliffe for an informative and productive meeting today, and I'd especially like to recognize the important step we took toward addressing a critical issue in each of our jurisdictions by signing the Regional Opioid Compact," said Governor Hogan. "I look forward to working closely together as regional partners to ensure that we achieve real results for our region and our citizens on economic development, transportation, trade, and growing jobs."
“No three jurisdictions are as closely linked together as Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I am grateful to Mayor Bowser and Governor Hogan for today’s discussion and for continuing to work with the Commonwealth on fighting the opioid epidemic, strengthening Metro, growing our regional economy and other key issues that are critical to our shared future. I look forward to continuing our regional partnership and working together to make life better for the families we serve.”
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager Paul Wiedefeld was also at today’s meeting to provide an update on SafeTrack, including a discussion on late-night service. DC CFO Jeffrey DeWitt was present to provide an update on WMATA finances. After hearing presentations from Wiedefeld and DeWitt, the delegation discussed their priorities for ensuring safety beyond SafeTrack.