U.S Attorney launches Press Play PA program to help fight drug addiction

Demetrius Brown credits an arrest in 2018 for starting his road to recovery. "I wasn't doing anything for myself by selling and using drugs," Brown said. "I hit rock bottom."Brown said it was the right people at the right time that gave him a second chance."Luckily people didn't give up on me and I think that's the most important thing in recovery," Brown said.Jeff Patterson of Greensburg has a similar story. "I didn't get clean and sober until I was 57 years old," Patterson said.Patterson and Brown worked their way through Westmoreland County's Drug Court. Now, they are two faces of a campaign aimed at helping others struggling with addiction.In Westmoreland County, 123 people died from a drug overdose in 2020. In Allegheny County, 689 people died. Both counties reporting an increase from previous years.Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman was in Greensburg Monday to announce the Press Play PA program. The ad campaign will include videos on social media and billboards on local highways and bus shelters.The goal is simple: To let people know help is out there."Law enforcement alone is not the answer," Kaufman said. "We also want to reduce drug demand and most importantly help people that are struggling with addiction get into recovery." Brown said he is making the most of his second chance. His focus now is on work and taking care of his three children. He hopes that by being a part of this campaign, he can help other people get the same chance he did."I see people on the other side that have not been fortunate to meet people like I did, and to see them every day going through the same things that I did is heartbreaking," Brown said.The U.S. Attorney's office is funding the program through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Westmoreland County joined Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties in receiving resources in 2020.