Rural Opioids

Partially because of his concern that this country's opioid epidemic hits rural communities so heavily, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) has kicked off a legislative push to advance concrete solutions to address the opioid epidemic throughout the country. Walden, who Chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led a hearing entitled "Combating the Opioid Crisis: Helping Communities Balance Enforcement and Patient Safety," and told an all-too-familiar story about one of his constituents. One of the speakers at the hearing, Ms. Susan Gibson, Deputy Assistant Attorney, Drug Enforcement Administration had something very alarming to say involving our national security.

"No community is immune to the opioid epidemic.  It's ripping apart the very fabric of our neighborhoods," said Walden.  "From Oregon to Ohio.  From Connecticut to California.  Our friends and our families are experiencing an epic tragedy -- one that's claiming the lives of more than 100 Americans each and every single day."

At a roundtable I held in southern Oregon, a man named 'Mike' showed up," recalled Walden. "Mike's son was injured in a school sporting accident, and he became addicted to the prescription painkillers provided by his doctor to aid in his recovery.  Eventually, Mike's son made the all-too-familiar transition to a cheaper opioid source: heroin.  To this day, Mike's son still struggles with his addiction that began with opioid abuse.

"Mike's story is tragically not a unique one. It is a story that is ripping apart families all across our country. We have to act."

The hearing focused on giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep illicit synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, off America's streets. Fentanyl is so deadly that a piece the size of a grain of salt is lethal, and has led to a reported 49 deaths in Oregon over the course of two years.

Combating the opioid epidemic is Rep. Walden's top priority as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Today's hearing represents the first of three legislative hearings the Energy and Commerce Committee will hold in the coming months to put forth initiatives to address the crisis. Rep. Walden intends to bring a legislative package to the floor of the House of Representative by Memorial Day.