Ed Markey: “I would like to start my remarks on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act with a story I received from one of my…”

“I would like to start my remarks on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act with a story I received from one of my constituents, David. He is a patient at Hope House in Boston. Hope House is the oldest and one of the largest residential treatment programs for adults in Massachusetts. This is what he said: Senator Markey: Addiction has totally ruined my life. It quickly took everything from me and my family. It has stripped me of my dignity and self worth along with my self respect. I also lost the trust of my entire family. Addiction started late for me. I was 44 years old. I had everything I could possibly dream of. A beautiful wife, a son, two step-daughters that I raised and put through college. We also built a new home in 2000. I had a great career and was a few years away from 20 to retire. Then my family and I went on vacation for two weeks and I came home with a parasite in my stomach for which I was prescribed pain medication. That was at the end of April that year. In May, I had my appendix taken out. In June, I had to have my gallbladder out. All the while being prescribed pain meds. Before I knew it, I was addicted. It wasn't long after that there were no more scripts to be had. Then I was doing heroin. This was so scary for me because I had not used any drugs my entire life. Within two years, everything was gone. Wife, family, job, house. Everything.…”