The Des Moines Register - Opioid Epidemic Needs Collaboration, Thoughtful Approach

Op-Ed

By Representative David Young

An American dies of a drug overdose nearly every 12 minutes. Opioid abuse and addiction, driven by prescription pain relievers and heroin, is devastating families and communities in Iowa and across the country through what can only be described as an epidemic.

In 2010, 29 deaths from heroin and other opioids were recorded in Iowa. By 2014, Iowa suffered 52 opioid-related fatalities, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. A survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also reported that for 75 percent of those who began abusing opioids in recent years, their addiction started with the use of prescription medications.

When I meet with county sheriffs and local law enforcement across the 3rd Congressional District, I hear serious concerns about the impact opioid abuse has on our state. Many Iowans I meet within each county in the district each month -- parents, children, friends and neighbors -- share how this epidemic is far reaching and destroying lives in our communities.

One of the scariest aspects of the opioid epidemic is many suffering from addiction never sought out prescription drugs or heroin for recreational use. Folks simply took medications as prescribed by their physician following a surgery or injury, and found they couldn't stop taking them. There are countless Americans in this situation who turn to seeking unused pills from friends or family, before resorting to street dealers for a quicker, cheaper and more attainable fix. These stories are heartbreaking and have affected many families, and tragically too often, our veterans returning home after serving our nation.

This week, I've been fighting for Iowa's families and our veterans in the U.S. House of Representatives by supporting more than a dozen pieces of important, bipartisan legislation to tackle this issue head on. There is no one root cause of the opioid epidemic, and therefore no one solution. These bills tackle a range of issues related to this nationwide problem -- from prescribing, to addiction treatment, to helping infants born addicted to opioids, to increasing accountability at the Department of Veterans' Affairs for our service members who have returned home.

One of the bills I supported, H.R. 4641, would create a task force of medical professionals, federal agencies and other stakeholders to evaluate and share best practices for pain medication prescription and long-term pain management. I also supported the PROMISE Act, which works to improve the VA's opioid guidelines and safety measures.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, we passed a number of bipartisan bills aimed at helping pregnant and postpartum women and their children to overcome opiate addiction, bills to keep our youth off prescription drugs, and several others to improve treatment programs and help people recover.

I also supported the Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act, to improve quality and access to opioid use disorder treatment. The scourge of opioids is unique in that it can affect anyone. While addressing this epidemic in Congress requires a thoughtful and pragmatic approach, as a community we must also stop and re-evaluate the stigma surrounding addiction to encourage those suffering to seek and get needed treatment, recuperate and heal.

At the end of the week the U.S. House of Representatives combined these bills into a comprehensive package aimed at preventing and treating opioid abuse, to turn the tide of this horrible epidemic. We will next begin negotiations with the U.S. Senate, which will lead to a final, compromise bill to be sent to the president's desk.

When we put our differences aside and work together, the U.S. House of Representatives can pass meaningful legislation to positively affect millions of America's families. I was proud to support these efforts to address the opioid epidemic head on and deliver results for the Iowans I represent.

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