August 31, 2024
Dear Friends,
Today marks International Overdose Awareness Day — a solemn moment to mourn those we have lost to the illness of addiction, and a reminder of why we must continue to work every day to end the overdose crisis.
For the countless families who have lost their loved ones to this wretched disease, every day is Overdose Awareness Day. I’ve pushed hard throughout my time in Congress to do all I can to support these families, to lift up their voices, and to shine a light on addiction. In addition to my efforts to raise awareness, I’ve dedicated my years in Congress to advancing meaningful legislation that delivers commonsense, compassionate care to those on the path to recovery.
This week, I held a roundtable discussion with individuals who are part of the recovery community and with the incredible staff of Friends of Recovery — New York and Second Chance Opportunities, Inc. to discuss challenges and potential public policy solutions when it comes to addiction and recovery. Their powerful work and stories have directly impacted my work in Washington. Buoyed by their advocacy and insights, I’ve pushed to strengthen access to effective treatments so that the moment an individual struggling with addiction reaches out for help, we have a medical system ready to help them on their journey to recovery.
In Congress, I proudly lead the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery (ATR) Caucus, where I work to reduce stigma and improve access to treatment. From my numerous meetings with advocates, doctors, and individuals in recovery, it has long been clear to me that patients struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) would be better served by a health care system that, by word and by deed, treats addiction and mental illness like other diseases — not one that makes providers jump through special hoops just to treat their patients.
That goal drove my efforts to advance the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which a little more than a year and a half ago was finally signed into law. This law eliminated the outdated barriers that prevent more people in need from accessing buprenorphine — an effective and lifesaving drug for addiction treatment. By passing this law, we are vastly expanding access to addiction medication and moving towards a system of treatment on demand for those struggling with addiction.
I’m also working to make sure that those who interact with our criminal justice system have a clear path to recovery. Too often, our justice system acts as a revolving door for those with addiction and mental health conditions. More than half of people in state prisons and two thirds of those incarcerated in jails have substance use disorder, and a lack of effective treatment options in correctional facilities leaves many of these individuals ill-prepared to return home to their families and communities — too often with deadly consequences. Studies have shown that people leaving jails and prisons are roughly 129 times more likely than the general population to die of an overdose in the first two weeks after their release.
We cannot allow this terrible loss of life to continue. That’s why I introduced my Reentry Act, bipartisan legislation that empowers states to restore access to health care through Medicaid, including addiction and mental health treatment, for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days prior to their release. This legislation ensures continuity of care while also reducing recidivism — a win-win.
We know what is at stake should we fail to respond with compassion and boldness to this crisis. For each individual lost, there is a whole universe of friends, family, and communities impacted. I am profoundly honored to stand with these families and advocates in their fight to ensure that no one ever has to experience the pain and loss that they have.
Only by working together can we deliver a response rooted in hope. Only together can we move toward a future where no more lives are lost to this devastating disease.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- Earlier this month, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced their NSF Game Maker Awards “Life in 2100” competition for K-12 students.
- In celebration of the agency’s 75th anniversary, this competition invites students to create video games that imagine life 75 years from now – in the year 2100.
- The NSF Game Maker Awards for K-12 is a call to action for students across the nation to dive into the world of game design and STEM, to think critically and creatively about the future, and contribute unique perspectives to the ongoing dialogue about our planet’s trajectory.
- Students will compete to win up to $7,500 in various prize categories and their games will be featured in NSF 75th anniversary activities. An additional prize can go to mentors, teachers, or parents/guardians who aid teams in application and game development.
- The deadline for students will be 5:00 PM EST on January 31st, 2025.
- Additional details can be found online at the NSF Game Maker Awards website.
