Political Quotes

“Philip Seymour Hoffman, a gifted and talented actor, didn't have to die. His death is all too common. In the past 6 years, heroin use has doubled, with 1 million ER visits and several thousand deaths that will occur this year from an overdose. This is not just a law enforcement issue but a public health issue because addiction is a mental disease. Many treatments for addiction are modeled on peer support like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, valuable and important organizations that provide a pathway to helping a person overcome an addiction through peer support, but peer support is only support. It is not the whole treatment. In Time magazine, a parent whose son died of a drug overdose said: I did everything I could, but I failed him. Everything included eight residential treatment programs and four outpatient programs. Addiction programs don't always do everything right. Ninety percent of those who enter treatment programs don't receive evidence-based treatment. The fact is there is a lack of mental health professionals, broken Federal policies, and a severe shortage of acute care facilities. I encourage my colleagues to join me in sponsoring the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, H.R. 3717. Let's get people the help they need. ____________________”