The Opioid Epidemic

Floor Speech

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Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out for the millions of American families who have been impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Every day we hear another story of parents who have lost their child to a heroin overdose or of young children who are left behind without care as their parents struggle with addiction.

In Alabama, which has the highest rate of opioid prescription use in this Nation, residents average 1.2 prescriptions per person.

Mr. Speaker, this epidemic doesn't discriminate by age or income or gender. The opioid epidemic has taken from families of every background.

Now, more than ever, these victims need our help. It is our job to help them find treatment not as criminals, but as patients in need of care.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that we are finally seeing as a society that addiction is not something to be criminalized but, rather, addiction is, indeed, a public health crisis. It is not a crime. It is a chronic neurological disorder, and it does make sense for us to find help for those who need it and not to put them in jail.

Unfortunately, during the 1980s and 1990s during the crack addiction, we criminalized that addiction and destroyed so many families, many of whom are in my district. But, Mr. Speaker, I am glad that we see that the opioid epidemic is, indeed, a public health crisis. I am equally glad that, Mr. Speaker, we are finally working in a bipartisan way to actually find the needed help that these families need in order to break such addictions.

Today I am glad to see that Republicans and Democrats working together in Congress are trying to solve the opioid epidemic and to help those in need. At a time when Congress is struggling with partisan gridlock, I am glad and happy to see that this week has been declared by my Republican colleagues as Opioid Week, where we will talk about bipartisan bills in order to solve this crisis.

I am proud to have introduced bipartisan legislation with Republican Congressman Peter Roskam. Our bill, the Preventing Addiction for Susceptible Seniors Act, helps prevent abuse among seniors without limiting access to needed medication.

For an at-risk senior, our legislation requires part D to create a lock-in plan that prevents patients from doctor shopping. Our legislation would also streamline communications between CMS and part C and part D plans regarding program integrity.

Mr. Speaker, bipartisan solutions like these are a step forward in our work to solve the opioid crisis. I look forward to my bill with Mr. Roskam coming before this body next week. I truly believe that we have the power to end this epidemic.

I have heard reports from Alabama groups that our poison control center is getting fewer calls about opioid emergencies. A new study shows that the opioid prescription rate in Alabama has finally begun to decrease.

States have implemented prescription drug monitoring programs that have proven successful, and many pharmacists have limited opioid prescriptions to 7 days.

If we are going to put a stop to the opioid crisis, we need to collaborate with every stakeholder. We also need to make sure that our societal safety net is working effectively to give a path out of addiction, rather than letting them fall through the cracks.

I want to take a moment to share a story about a person in my district, Jessica, a constituent from Alabama.

Jessica was a victim of parental abuse as a child. She was introduced to opioids by a doctor for a sports injury in high school. By 17, she was crushing and snorting pills. She received 330 pills a month.

Jessica had three children and lost custody of all three at different points. She started using heroin after losing custody of her youngest son. Then her brother died of a heroin overdose.

I share this story because I believe Jessica's story speaks to the financial stresses that working-class Americans recovering from addiction feel every day. Now in recovery, Jessica works 10-hour night shifts at Burger King. Given the hours she works, Jessica falls into our State's Medicaid gap. She doesn't qualify to receive Medicaid, so she doesn't have health insurance.

Jessica has been clean for over a year. But, Mr. Speaker, because she doesn't have health insurance, this makes her addiction problem and fighting it much harder.

The bills that we are considering this week and next week are a step toward this. There are no silver bullets. But, Mr. Speaker, I do believe that we as a body can help to address this horrible epidemic. I am glad that we are finally seeing that addiction is not criminal, but rather a public health crisis, and we are seeking to solve it.

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