Fighting the opioid crisis has to start at the local level.
As your representative in Richmond, these are the steps I’ll take to address the epidemic.
The opioid crisis is clearly one of Virginia’s most urgent issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 91 Americans die each day from opioid overdoses, with 33,000 deaths recorded in 2015. In Virginia, at least 1,420 people died of drug overdoses in 2016, primarily from abuse of synthetic opioids, heroin, and prescription fentanyl. All too often, this crisis hits close to home in the 30th District, where we have seen many fatalities as well as the ongoing struggles of addicts and their families as they try to cope with this devastating disease. Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos has said that “the recent spike in heroin usage is unlike anything I have ever seen.”
More research, planning, community partnerships, education, treatment options, and funding are needed to address this crisis effectively. In the meantime, here’s how we can get to work in Richmond.
Opt in to the ACA’s Medicaid Expansion
Expanding Medicaid in Virginia will secure affordable healthcare — including mental health services and substance abuse treatment — for an additional 400,000 Virginians. We must continue to work toward more accessible and affordable healthcare for all.
Legalize Marijuana
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than a dozen states that have legalized medical marijuana have seen a decrease in deaths due to heroin overdose. Medical marijuana can cause a significant reduction in the use of opioids for pain management. Legalizing marijuana will not only strengthen our local economy, it has the potential to be a key factor in reducing the abuse of heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs.
Expand Narcan Training for Police
Culpeper police officers recently began to carry auto-injectors of the opiate antidote Naloxone (sold as Narcan) due to the frequency of drug overdoses in the county. More funding is needed to ensure that officers and EMTs throughout the 30th District are able to carry this drug to help save lives.
Support and Expand Counseling and Treatment Options
We must end the stigma against mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment, ensure the availability of adequate insurance coverage for treatment, and expand options for treatment and services for those struggling with addiction as well as their families.
Support Education Regarding Non-Narcotic Options
Patients seeking emergency care or undergoing surgery and those in need of post-surgical pain management have an array of non-narcotic options now available for their care. Hospitals such as Medstar Georgetown have developed new protocols that can minimize or eliminate the use of opioids during surgery. Through expanded outreach and patient education, recovering addicts and others who are sensitive to narcotics can seek the medical treatment they need without fear of relapse or future addiction. The medical community recognizes that it has played a large role in the rise of opioid addiction in this country. We need to work together to be sure that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and patients understand the best options and paths forward to avoid addictions.
Strengthen Partnerships
We must fight the disease of addiction as a community, working together to educate one another on drug safety, alternate coping mechanisms, treatment options, mental health and family services, and Good Samaritan laws. Law enforcement, emergency response teams, social service agencies, schools, clinics, hospitals, and treatment centers should work hand-in-hand to share information, resources, and best practices to address this crisis.
