Issue Position: Opiate Epidemic

Issue Position

The opiate epidemic is draining our state of our precious human talent, creativity, productivity, and safety. It is also a huge financial strain on our families, schools, employers, hospitals, jails, and our Medicaid system. Now we are seeing generational addiction in families. Every measure must be considered to stop the supply of illegal drugs into West Virginia, including stiff penalties for dealers. We must develop a clear plan to break the cycle of addiction, restore hope, and provide guidance for people recovering from addiction to earn employment. That means we need training and jobs. It also means we need accountability in recovery and recovery systems. West Virginia could be the state that revolutionizes addiction recovery. Where there is a great challenge, there is great opportunity. We also need to continue to consider and reconsider the laws addressing drug crime. Law enforcement, courts, and detention personnel and resources have to have the means to ensure the security and safety of law abiding citizens. People must be accountable for the choices they make and the actions they take

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