John Rice Carter: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5046, the Comprehensive Opioid…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5046, the Comprehensive Opioid Reduction Act of 2016, because we need to ensure that every State has the tools they need to fight the opioid abuse epidemic. H.R. 5046 establishes a comprehensive opioid abuse grant program to provide training to first responders, criminal investigation for the distribution of opioids, resident treatment centers, and drug courts. Approximately 47,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2014, and approximately 21.5 million people ages 12 and older suffer from substance abuse. As a lifelong pharmacist, I have seen firsthand the struggles that these people face. H.R. 5046 seeks to fight the opioid epidemic through a grant program that would provide States with the resources to provide programs to help Americans fight this disease. It would help improve prescription drug monitoring programs, help address juvenile opioid abuse, give first responders the training to reverse opioid overdoses, and improve access for veterans in treatment court. The only way we are going to be able to fight this battle is if we work together as a team to educate and help victims of the opioid abuse. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. {time} 1315”