ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Congressman John Joyce, local emergency leaders, and law enforcement officials held a roundtable discussion on the local impact of drugs Wednesday.

“This isn’t a city of Altoona problem. This isn’t a Logan Township problem. This is a community wide problem, from the largest to the smallest,” said Blair County Sheriff James Ott when describing the influx of drugs from the southern border.

Officials say 99-percent of problems law enforcement officers now face stem from that increase. The major concern is methamphetamine, which they say will soon surpass the opioid epidemic.

Congressman Joyce said the concerns he heard today show more needs to be done at a national level to keep our local communities safe. 

“Having these individuals saying to me, this is important. This is in Hollidaysburg. There is no component of our community that is spared. I take that back to Washington. I take that back to the committee of homeland security realizing we have to secure our border,” said Joyce.

The congressman added the new push for action will expand upon several measures already established to strengthen the border.