Katherine Clark: “My amendment would direct the task force to consider the programs and research relative to adolescents and young adults.…”

“My amendment would direct the task force to consider the programs and research relative to adolescents and young adults. We know that addiction and recovery often start early, and we need to focus research on how to address the unique needs of our adolescents and young adults. We need to understand how years of opioid abuse can affect the development of the brain, how it affects the development of coping skills, and how we can best support our kids in long-term recovery. Most importantly, there are many gaps in research on this subject, and we need to know the status of the current research and where we need to focus our resources. Recently, I met a constituent named Ryan. In seventh grade, he started taking drugs. When he did, he told me he felt like he finally fit in, like he had found the answers to the problems he felt and the pain he felt. By the time he was 13, he started drinking, taking pills, and stealing money from his family. His mother was panicked. The minute he walked out of the house he had to get high. He also felt powerless. At 15, he became convinced he was a bad person. He felt ashamed that he couldn't change, not even for his mother. The last time he relapsed, his mom told him he couldn't see friends anymore, and he threw a piece of glass at her. She looked him in the eyes and said: I don't know who you are anymore. He went into treatment for three additional months, and that treatment is what changed his life. He said that it saved him.…”