May 19, 2016

Capitol Hill Day for Families Affected by the Heroin Epidemic

Families affected by the prescription drug abuse and heroin use epidemic and members of congress took to Capitol Hill this morning to support the passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).

At the press conference, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) addressed the families. Other speakers were Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas).

The two-day event, CARA Family Day, included a special training with CADCA’s Public Policy Consultant, Sue Thau. The event was organized by the Addiction Policy Forum and featured meetings with families from around the nation who met individually with their member of congress to discuss how addiction shatters families, and why resources to address this chronic disease are desperately needed in every community.

The Addiction Policy Forum also this week launched their social media campaign “129 a Day” that highlights the 129 families who lose a loved one each day to drug overdose/addiction.

Last week, in a sweeping 400-5 vote, the House of Representatives passed a package of opioid abuse bills as an amendment to S. 524 (CARA), and requested a conference with the Senate to work out the differences between the proposals.

Coalitions and families are encouraged to continue to contact their legislators to ask them to move the bills along for the President’s signature.

In addition, U.S. Representatives in districts nationwide released a comprehensive addiction resources toolkit to help the families impacted by the heroin and opioid epidemic across their states. The Addiction Policy Forum worked with leading national and community organizations to gather these resources.

Coalitions can download a copy of the Addiction Community Resources Toolkit here that features CADCA input.

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