There’s a grave epidemic going on in our country right now, John.
Every day, more than 130 human beings die after overdosing on opioids. 47,000 human beings a year are losing their lives this way. And a countless number of family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and communities are suffering from the devastating effects of this epidemic.
We needed to address this crisis yesterday. Victims of this crisis deserve our support and we must hold every single person responsible for manufacturing this public health emergency to the highest degree of accountability.
1. End the stigma around substance use disorders, focusing on public awareness. For far too long, Americans have been shamed and left alone to suffer with substance use disorders. It’s time to treat these problems like the public health concerns they are —not as criminal justice problems as we have been doing.
2. Provide access to health care and interventions that promote long-term recovery. We must expand access to anyone in need of medication-based recovery and support at risk populations, including rural Americans, veterans, Native Americans, and incarcerated individuals. This includes cracking down on methadone’s for-profit industry and granting additional grants to states to address this public health crisis.
3. Ensure that individuals with chronic pain are not denied access to the medications for whom proper usage of opioids are life-sustaining pharmacotherapy. The CDC must be directed to improve the guidelines offered to primary care doctors, clinicians, and other specialists who are issuing opioid prescriptions.
4. Target the supply chain that has allowed this epidemic to flourish. This means tackling the illegal importation of fentanyl and holding the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry accountable. For instance, in Oklahoma’s recent case against Johnson & Johnson, the judge ordered that the company must pay the state $572 million, the amount of money necessary to implement the first year of the state’s abatement plan to combat the opioid crisis.
5. Support those recovering from substance use disorder, opioid use disorder, and alcohol use disorder to reach economic stability. We recognize that these individuals have difficulty finding and holding good paying jobs. As a result, we must invest in paid training and re-entry programs for recovering individuals.
We hope you’ll add your name and support this desperately needed plan to end this health care crisis. Add your name »-Team Beto
PS: If you want to read more details about Beto’s plan, click here and read our article.
