Rep. Ron Kind Cosponsors Bill Aimed at Preventing Opioid and Heroin Abuse

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind cosponsored the Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act, which will extend resources for drug abuse prevention grants for an additional five years. The current $1 billion of funding for these grants, which was included in the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016, will expire next April. The grants will bolster efforts to streamline access to treatment and grow substance abuse prevention programs by $500 million a year.

"I've been meeting with healthcare professionals, law enforcement officials, and community leaders across our state, and one of their biggest concerns is preventing opioids and other drugs from getting in the wrong hands," said Rep. Ron Kind. "I am proud to cosponsor this important bill, so our states can continue creating and growing preventive programs that help protect our communities."

On Monday, Rep. Ron Kind hosted a roundtable discussion with Eau Claire-area law enforcement, health professionals, and community leaders about the impact of the growing drug and opioid epidemic in Wisconsin. They also discussed Rep. Kind's recently released Drug Epidemic Action Plan, and the ways that various public and private stakeholders can work together to help heal our communities.

Over 64,000 people in the United States died from drug related overdoses in 2016 -- 42,000 from opioids alone. In Wisconsin, emergency room visits for opioid overdoses more than doubled over the course of a year.

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