Political Quotes

“the faces and voices of the opioid and heroin epidemic are all around us. The victims and survivors are everywhere, in Connecticut and across the country. Just this past weekend, one of them perished. A young woman, Erikka Lyn Hughes, was found unconscious in her boyfriend's apartment, later dying from a heroin overdose. Erikka was only 21 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her, and her future was destroyed as a result of this epidemic. Her family, bravely and strongly, has chosen to speak out and stand up in the midst of their shock and grief to say that they hope that Erikka's story will inspire action to combat this epidemic of overdose and addiction. Rampant opioid overdose and abuse and misuse in our country has reached epidemic proportions, and it shows no signs of slowing. In Connecticut, I have seen these stories firsthand. This public health hurricane has swept our State and our Nation, crashing down on the lives of families and innocent people, much as a natural disaster would destroy homes or landscapes, leaving a path of pain, heartbreak, and addiction in its wake. The numbers in Connecticut are as shocking as they are tragic. Last year in my State, a record number of people--nearly 700--died from opioid overdoses. Sadly, this number is abstract, but it reflects a disheartening trend that has led to a 75-percent increase in prescription drug overdoses in Connecticut since 2012.…”