King Statement on Number of Maine Drug Overdose Deaths in 2016

Statement

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement in response to an announcement by the Maine Attorney General that more than one person a day died of drug overdose in Maine in 2016:

"Right now, Washington is consumed in petty partisanship and political bickering. But back in Maine, more than one person a day died from a drug-related overdose last year. That's a troubling, staggering figure -- and it should be a wake-up call to those in Congress who simply thought they could pass a bill, move along, and this crisis would solve itself. The fight against the drug epidemic is far from over, and the Senate cannot lose sight that there is more work left to do to help those who need it. Because when we talk about statistics, we're talking about people. We're talking about their families. We're talking about our neighbors and our communities. I will continue to push my colleagues to join with me in fighting this epidemic, including supporting continued robust funding."

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