Politics & Government
Lorain-Area U.S. Rep Asks Congress To Prioritize Opioid Crisis
Rep. Marcy Kaptur led a coalition of politicians asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to address the nation's opioid epidemic.
LORAIN, OH — U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur is part of a coalition of congresspeople asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to prioritize policies addressing the nation's surging opioid epidemic.
Kaptur, a Democrat that represents parts of Lorain County, was one of the leaders of a 60-person letter to Pelosi. She specifically believes policies need to address the rise of synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, which have contributed heavily to a spike in Ohio's overdose deaths.
“Despite previous Congressional efforts to provide more resources to combat the opioid crisis to states and communities across this nation, there is much more to do,” said Kaptur. “The opioid epidemic must be a top priority for the 116th Congress, as we demonstrate our commitment to innovative solutions and creative resources to counter this complex crisis."
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Indeed, despite both national and statewide efforts to curtail the sustained spike in overdose deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that opioids continue to kill more and more Ohioans. New data from the CDC said Ohio increased from 39.1 overdose deaths per 100,000 to 46.3 deaths per 100,000, between 2016 and 2017.
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Kaptur and her fellow congresspeople asked Pelosi to increase funding to national and regional initiatives to combat the spread of opioids.
"To build on local, regional, or state successes, it is vital we prioritize substantial and comprehensive measures and strategies. Democratic Leadership in the House has shown early attention to these matters and we look forward to an aggressive agenda," Kaptur said.
The letter was signed by more than 60 U.S. Congresspeople, including Joyce Beatty (OH-3), Marcia Fudge (OH-11), and Tim Ryan (OH-13).
The full text of the letter has been posted online.
Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for V-Day
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