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From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE AICDAC GRANT
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw
attention to an ongoing epidemic that is plaguing most communities
across the Nation. I am talking about the opioid crisis.
Far too many people have fallen victim to opioid abuse, and the
statistics in Pennsylvania are frightening. In the most recent data
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is reported
that 5,388 people died from drug overdose in 2017, many of them from
opioid abuse.
Addiction does not discriminate. It does not see race, gender, or
socioeconomic status. There is not a community in our Nation that
hasn't been impacted by opioid addiction in some way.
Before my time in Congress, I spent 28 years as a therapist and
rehabilitation services manager. I have seen firsthand how addiction
impacts families and our communities.
September is Recovery Month, and it is an opportunity to increase
awareness and understanding of substance abuse disorders.
To celebrate those who are helping combat the opioid crisis and those
who are on the road to recovery, Clarion County recently celebrated
Recovery Month by honoring first responders who have made an impact on
the community.
Together, John Greenway, Farrah Murray, and Bridget Murray have saved
38 lives by delivering naloxone, the medication that counters the
effects of opioid overdose.
At the award ceremony, Clarion resident Dustin Parsons told his story
about his struggle with addiction, noting the help he received from the
AICDAC, the Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission.
Dustin said: ``During the last few years of my addiction, I was in a
position where I could meet the AICDAC. They helped me get a lot of
resources. I want to give back to the community. I try to convince
other people that there is a way out of this.''
The AICDAC works to prevent addiction and treat those who have fallen
victim to opioid abuse, and they are the recent recipient of a $1
million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services.
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These funds will ensure the region will have substance abuse
prevention, intervention, and treatment services, especially when it
comes to combating the opioid crisis affecting our communities.
The grant is being used to expand the commission's Addiction Recovery
Mobile Outreach Team that services the three area hospitals to provide
treatment and recovery 24/7.
Kami Anderson, Executive Director of AICDAC, said: ``The commission
will continue its work with county overdose task forces which are
committed to reducing and eliminating the number of fatal opioid
overdoses in the three-county area.''
Recovery is incredibly important. The care the therapists, first
responders, doctors, and addiction specialists provide can, in many
cases, be the difference between life and death, but we must not
overlook the critical importance of prevention efforts.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced $1.8 billion
to help States combat the opioid crisis. It is my hope that this will
be a step in the right direction in healing and to rid this Nation of
this health crisis.
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