Delivering Solutions to America's Devastating Opioid Epidemic
Every day, families in every community of every state in our nation receive the devastating news that a loved one has died from a drug overdose. I have heard these stories firsthand from heartbroken parents who have lost children far too young and from families that, to this day, endure the wrenching pain of the empty seat at the dinner table. As a father of four, it breaks my heart. Tragically, these stories are all too common. In 2022 alone, nearly 110,000 Americans died from a drug overdose, which includes roughly 75,000 people who succumbed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl: a grim milestone in our nation’s history.
Born and raised in rural Iowa, I know that the opioid epidemic does not geographically discriminate. From 1999 to 2015, overdose deaths increased by 325% in rural counties, and according to a 2017 survey commissioned by the National Farmers Union and the American Farm Bureau Federation, roughly 74% of farmers have been directly impacted by the opioid epidemic.
In response to these alarming statistics, Senator Chucky Grassley and I joined forces to introduce our Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act – which was signed into law in December of 2022 – to equip our rural communities and first responders with the resources they need to expand opioid treatment, support families, and save lives. This law, which codifies the Rural Responses to the Opioid Initiative, provides grants to our local communities and nonprofit organizations to implement proven solutions and recovery programs for opioid addiction.
More recently, I voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, several pieces of legislation – including the Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act and the HALT Fentanyl Act – to combat the opioid epidemic, hold dangerous drug traffickers accountable for their crimes, and stop the endless flow of deadly fentanyl into our communities. More specifically, these two bills will help us identify and eradicate the illicit financing mechanisms employed by drug cartels to profit off human lives and permanently list all fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, allowing law enforcement to swiftly confiscate fentanyl and other deadly substances at our border and throughout our country.
The scourge of opioids is devastating to our families and our communities. We need real solutions to get these deadly drugs off our streets and protect precious lives. In Congress, I will continue to work with my colleagues to secure our open border, punish dangerous drug traffickers, and ensure that fewer Americans endure the pain of losing a cherished family member.
Representing Iowa’s 4th Congressional District is an honor and privilege that I cherish, and I encourage you to contact my office online at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at (202) 225-4426 to share your thoughts with me because we are government – together.
This op-ed was originally published in the July 2023 edition of the Iowa County Magazine.