John, today is International Overdose Awareness Day, and it's clearer than ever before how much our leaders must still do to address this crisis.

This is personal to me. After a years-long battle with addiction and 499 days of sobriety, I lost my beautiful son, Matt, to an opioid overdose. And my four sons and my daughter lost their beloved brother.

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 always see political messaging that asks folks to send them to Washington because they'll be a fighter. And you can absolutely count on me to fight tooth and nail to make our communities safer and to tackle this epidemic – but I will be so much more than just a fighter.

I am asking you to send me to Washington to address this issue because I am a nurse – I know how to heal wounds like these. I've helped patients suffering from the illness of addiction through their indescribable pain.

I am asking you to send me to Washington because I've spent my life serving Missouri, one of the states most impacted by opioids in the entire nation. Today, one out of every 54 deaths in our state is caused by an opioid-involved overdose. I know the communities that are hurting most because they're my community.

And finally, I am asking you to send me to Washington because I am a mother who has grieved this exact loss firsthand.

Folks say there is no one more protective, fierce, and determined than a mother who's defending her children. And although I lost Matt, I am still fighting for him every single day. I could not view this issue with any more seriousness or personal conviction.

So today, I am asking you to send me to Washington to tackle this, not just for my kids, but for all of our kids. I am asking as a nurse, as a Missourian, and as a mother: Please, help me prevent any more heartache than this crisis has already caused.

As we mark International Opioid Awareness Day today, I'd like to invite you to read my plan to tackle the opioid epidemic. It's informed by experts, by communities, and by personal experience, so it'd mean so much to me for you to take a moment to read it.

To those of you who've experienced this epidemic firsthand, I promise that I will always stand with you, fight for the justice you deserve, and work toward a place of healing and peace. Together, I know that we can end the opioid epidemic and win a brighter future for our families.

– Trudy