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During her 10 years in the Colorado state legislature, U.S. Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen championed policies to improve access to substance use disorder treatment. Now she is working on the federal level to attack the opioid crisis head-on.

Pettersen hosted a roundtable discussion on the opioid epidemic with Mayor Ashley Smith, local leaders and the opioid abatement council April 13, where they shared what the landscape of illicit drug use and distribution looks like in Fremont County.

Cañon City Police Chief John Schick said his officers have saved countless people by administering Narcan, a medicine that can help people who are overdosing on an opioid.

The Cañon City Police Department on April 11 made a hefty drug bust and arrested a local man, Robert Broman, in connection with the seizure of 11,302 fentanyl pills, 13 grams of methamphetamine, 129.7 grams of methamphetamine, 5.2 grams of heroin and six firearms.

"This is a very significant issue," Schick said. "I absolutely applaud your efforts on the recovery side of this issue. I don't know how we stop the supply side."

Earlier that same day, Pettersen introduced her first bill to establish a National Center to prevent the import of illicit synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl and its precursors, into the U.S.

The Stop the Import of Fentanyl Act would create this center under the Drug Enforcement Administration and instruct the Director to investigate how synthetic drugs come into the country, as well as to create a strategic plan for breaking up the synthetic drug trade, tracking the movements of drug traffickers, and serving as the central knowledge bank on drug trafficking organizations.

"I am told by narcotics agents that these distributors go (out of state), purchase these pills for 10 cents a piece and come back and sell them here for $10," Schick said. "That is hard to manage; there certainly is a huge financial incentive for folks to continue distributing this poison locally and nationally. Whatever you can do on the federal side to continue to help us disrupt the distribution of the supply chain would help."

Pettersen said she plans to bring more bills forward to help incentivize the funding necessary to support law enforcement and regional coordination. Her passion to tackle the opioid epidemic stems from her own mother's opioid addiction, which began with a back injury. Today, Pettersen's mother has been in recovery for more than five years.

"She is an example of what is possible when we invest in the right things," Pettersen said.

After the roundtable, Pettersen met with nearly 80 constituents during the official opening of her new district office at 611 Greenwood Ave., Unit C.

The office opening turned into an impromptu town hall meeting.

"On the campaign trail, I made the commitment to have an office here," she said. "The reason why that was very important to me is because it became clear with the increase in population in this area and the high needs, that you all really deserve to have ongoing representation here in the district."

Penrose resident Justin Kurth runs the local office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

"This is not going to be the last time you see me," Pettersen said. "I will be engaged in this community; I care deeply about representing you and being the best advocate that I can at the federal level."

Attendees asked Pettersen about the future of public health, education, the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program and more.

"I want you to know that I am going to fight for you, and I am not going to stop showing up," she said.

While in Fremont County on April 13 and 14, Pettersen also hosted a business roundtable in Florence and toured some Brownfield sites with EPA officials.

"This is a very red area, but these key issues are not partisan," Pettersen said after the office opening celebration. "I care about representing this area, just as much as I do the other parts of the district."

To contact Pettersen's local district office, call 719-458-6161 or email justin.kurth@mail.house.gov.