Saving communities from addiction
Lead Summary
By
-
By Rep. Brad Wenstrup
R-Second District
Cincinnati native Alec Schiering was just 21 years old when he broke his back serving as a firefighter in his community.
Following the doctor’s orders, Alec began taking high doses of prescription opioids to ease the pain during his recovery. But like so many, Alec became addicted to these pills, and once the prescription ran out, turned to heroin to fill his craving.
Thankfully, Alec took advantage of a second chance. After a 6-month stint in jail, coupled with a 12-step rehabilitation program, he was able to rebuild and reclaim his life. Alec’s been sober for the last 4 years, and he’s now involved with “Not One More,” an organization dedicated to raising awareness about drug addiction and preventing further abuse.
For many across the country, however, that second chance never comes. In Ohio, in 2014 alone, more than 2,500 people died of unintentional drug overdoses. Prescription opioids were involved in nearly half of those cases.
More than 400 of those individuals lived right here in Ohio’s Second District.
These are not just numbers. These are moms and dads, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. They’re our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and students. They’re from all walks of life.
And their drug dependency is robbing them of life.
This week, I’m proud to join fellow Members in the People’s House to battle the deadly drug epidemic on several fronts:
• educating health care professionals on best practices for prescribing opioids;
• increasing treatment options for addicts;
• equipping our first responders with life-saving medication; and,
• cracking down on transnational drug trafficking, and more.
Alongside action from our local communities, these bills (see http://www.majorityleader.gov/floor/#weekly) will help give people the confidence and resources they need to get back on their feet and turn their lives around.
Addiction destroys lives. But with the right tools and the right approach, we just might be able to save our communities.
R-Second District
Cincinnati native Alec Schiering was just 21 years old when he broke his back serving as a firefighter in his community.
Following the doctor’s orders, Alec began taking high doses of prescription opioids to ease the pain during his recovery. But like so many, Alec became addicted to these pills, and once the prescription ran out, turned to heroin to fill his craving.
Thankfully, Alec took advantage of a second chance. After a 6-month stint in jail, coupled with a 12-step rehabilitation program, he was able to rebuild and reclaim his life. Alec’s been sober for the last 4 years, and he’s now involved with “Not One More,” an organization dedicated to raising awareness about drug addiction and preventing further abuse.
For many across the country, however, that second chance never comes. In Ohio, in 2014 alone, more than 2,500 people died of unintentional drug overdoses. Prescription opioids were involved in nearly half of those cases.
More than 400 of those individuals lived right here in Ohio’s Second District.
These are not just numbers. These are moms and dads, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters. They’re our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and students. They’re from all walks of life.
And their drug dependency is robbing them of life.
This week, I’m proud to join fellow Members in the People’s House to battle the deadly drug epidemic on several fronts:
• educating health care professionals on best practices for prescribing opioids;
• increasing treatment options for addicts;
• equipping our first responders with life-saving medication; and,
• cracking down on transnational drug trafficking, and more.
Alongside action from our local communities, these bills (see http://www.majorityleader.gov/floor/#weekly) will help give people the confidence and resources they need to get back on their feet and turn their lives around.
Addiction destroys lives. But with the right tools and the right approach, we just might be able to save our communities.