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Dear John,
1,034. That’s how many Missourians lost their lives to opioid overdose in 2020 alone. And, after a years-long battle with addiction and nearly 500 days of sobriety, I am heartbroken to say that my beautiful son, Matt, was one of them.
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The opioid epidemic in Missouri – and across the country – is deeply personal to me.
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But I know my story isn’t unique. I know my pain and heartache are shared by too many. That's why I believe it’s time to make addiction recovery a priority in Washington.
I’m ready to put an end to our state’s tragic opioid epidemic. That’s why I want to share my opioid recovery plan with you today.
We can end the opioid epidemic by:
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- Making opioid treatment more accessible, especially in rural areas;
- Securing funding for more treatment options – and affordable ones at that;
- Investing in local police departments to combat the opioid crisis;
- Combating the stigma and shame associated with addiction;
- And continuing research to tackle this terrible problem.
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My son Matt gave so much to this world in his short life. The journey to addiction recovery isn’t easy. But together, we can remove the stigma, make treatment more accessible, and end the opioid epidemic in America so that our communities can thrive again.
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John, if you are currently struggling with addiction or know someone who is, I want you to know that you are worthy of recovery – and that I see you and I will work for you. If you are, like me, a parent who lost a child to an opioid overdose, know that you are not alone.
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Thank you for your time,
Trudy
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