LuAnn Bennett Statement on Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week

McLean – Small business owner and VA-10 Democratic challenger LuAnn Bennett released the following statement after President Obama proclaimed September 18 through September 24, 2016 Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week:

“Addiction to prescription opioids or heroin is a disease that derails promising lives, shatters families, strains our first responders and medical professionals and tears apart entire communities. Far too many families across the 10th district have friends or loved ones affected by this terrible disease.

“We must treat those dealing with addiction with kindness and compassion, instead of forcing them to self-diagnose and seek treatment alone. By offering those dealing with substance abuse problems with compassion not condemnation, we can begin to help them repair their lives.

“We also need our leaders to attack this serious public health crisis with the urgency it demands. That includes giving our medical professionals and first responders the resources they need to help those affected, sponsoring more treatment and prevention efforts for those with addiction, and holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable for their role.

“Congress so far has met this public health crisis with empty promises. While the Obama administration has requested more than $1 billion to expand access to treatment services for opioid use disorder by expanding prevention strategies and increasing access to life-saving medication, Congress has refused to fund these urgent priorities. Congress and House Republicans must act immediately to provide the $1.1 billion needed to address this scourge. The longer they don’t, the more families across Northern Virginia – and our country – are left to struggle alone.”