John, we need to have an honest conversation about the toll opioids have on our community: in our state, drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death amongst our young people. This epidemic is tearing apart our communities, our homes, and our families in the most painful ways – and Washington is letting us down. I know that first hand – as a nurse, as a Missourian, and as a mom.

I've put ending the opioid epidemic at the absolute heart of my campaign. That's why I'm in Kansas City today, meeting with experts and discussing solutions to this public health emergency. This city is one of the most impacted by opioids – especially fentanyl – in the entire United States. From 2019 to 2020, opioid deaths in Kansas City have skyrocketed by 150%.

For me, the opioid epidemic isn't some far-off concept – it's viscerally real. After a years-long battle with addiction and nearly 500 days of sobriety, I lost my beautiful son, Matt, to opioids. This issue is deeply, painfully personal to me, but – tragically – my family's story is only one out of thousands.

I care fiercely about this issue, and that's why I released a comprehensive plan that would expand treatment options and give our communities the funding and resources they need to finally end this terrible crisis. Could you take a moment right now to read my plan over on my website? This is incredibly important to me, so I would really appreciate just a couple of minutes of your time.

Families, healthcare providers, and even our kids are crying out for help, but there simply aren't enough accessible, effective treatment options. At the same time, undue shame and stigma prevent too many of us from receiving the help we need when struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

As your senator, I'll champion individuals and families struggling with addiction. I will invest in recovery. I will hold the pharmaceutical industry responsible for its role in the opioid crisis. And I'll make sure that Washington makes a real, meaningful investment in ending this crisis so that communities and treatment centers have the funding they need.

I promise you I'm working hard every day to win this campaign and end the opioid epidemic. But we'll only accomplish real change together. If you're ready to help me take this work to Washington, can you pitch in a donation of $5 right now? We're going up against powerful forces, so I'm really counting on your partnership to win this race.

Thank you for standing with me,

Trudy Busch Valentine