On the recordMay 12, 2016
The opioid abuse epidemic has tragically touched every corner of this Nation with over half of all drug overdoses linked to prescription opioids. At least once a day someone in my home State of Colorado loses a friend or family member due to drug abuse. In 2013, Colorado was ranked as having the second most prevalent epidemic prescription drug abuse in the country. The Colorado Consortium was created that year to form a collaborative group dedicated to finding solutions to opioid addiction and abuse. Efforts like the Colorado Consortium can help supplement existing programs in areas where they already operate. However, without raising national awareness of the heroin and opioid epidemic, these local efforts will continue to struggle to gain the resources they need. There is no silver bullet. It will take multifront, coordinated approaches to aid communities in combating the opioid epidemic. Beyond securing our borders and enabling law enforcement to do their jobs, expanding opioid abuse prevention and education efforts and treating those afflicted with addiction are the most important actions that Congress can take. That is the focus of our work in the House on the bipartisan heroin task force. ____________________
