Velázquez Response to K2 Overdoses in Brooklyn

Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) issued the following statement regarding the "K2" overdoses that occurred this weekend in Brooklyn:

"This weekend provided another tragic reminder of the dangers K2 and synthetic marijuana pose to our community. That's why last year I introduced legislation that deploys federal resources to educate the public on the harms of these substances and focuses on at-risk populations. I will continue pushing for this legislation's movement. In the meantime, I join local officials who are calling on NYPD to more effectively combat this threat. In coming days, I will be reaching out to local DEA officials, directly, to see how additional resources can be leveraged to battle the scourge of K2 in Brooklyn."

Velázquez's bill, the "Synthetic Drug Prevention, Treatment and Education Act," H.R. 2900, authorizes the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) to make grants up to $250,000 in aggregate of $5 million over the next two years to qualified health centers to work on public awareness campaigns within local communities. The bill also requires multiple federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop a national outreach campaign that will educate law enforcement, local and state agencies and healthcare providers about synthetic drugs.

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