Katherine Clark: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5102, the Substance Use Disorder…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5102, the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act. As families at home know too well, our country is in the midst of a devastating public health crisis. The opioid epidemic claims more than 115 lives every day, and in 2016 alone, more than 42,000 people lost their lives to opioid-related drug overdoses, and more than 64,000 died from drug overdoses overall. Every one of those lives lost left heartbroken families, friends, and communities. Part of addressing this epidemic is making sure that everyone who is looking for help can access effective treatment and ongoing management of this chronic condition. To date, however, we have failed in this endeavor. The Surgeon General's 2016 report on addiction estimates that only 10 percent of Americans living with substance use disorder receive any treatment. There are a range of barriers to accessing treatment, but one of the most significant is a shortage in the workforce needed to provide it. Between the rising cost of education, low salaries, and a high burnout rate from the stressful and emotional work, it is a struggle to attract new people to the treatment field and keep those who work in it long term. In my district, I have heard time and again from families and providers that there simply aren't enough treatment specialists available to help the growing number of people who desperately need treatment.…”