Rep. Brat Celebrates New Law Addressing Opioid Crisis

Statement

Rep. Dave Brat released the following statement:

"Yesterday, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law by President Trump. This comprehensive response to the opioid epidemic included my legislation that recognizes early childhood trauma related to substance abuse and will help promote whole-family and multi-generational approaches in treating opioid addiction. In Virginia, drug overdoses kill more people than motor vehicle accidents and gun deaths. This human cost is not calculable. But we can calculate the total 'economic burden' of opioid misuse, estimated at $78.5 billion a year. While Democrats are focused on Resistance, Republicans in Congress have been working to solve many of our nation's most painful problems. In this Congress, House Republicans have passed 49 bills that amount to a $4 billion investment in combating the opioid crisis. I remain committed to working with the recovery community to combat this epidemic and to ensure more of these federal resources make it to the places that are doing the most good."

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