One Voice, a faith-based community resource center, applauded the U.S. Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 (CARA), a bipartisan bill that will help combat the opioid epidemic nationwide.

The legislation aims to create grants to aid state and local programs targeted at the epidemic, which took the lives of more than 47,000 Americans in 2014. West Virginia had the highest overdose death rates that year at 35.5 deaths per 100,000.

Melonie Terry, program director for One Voice of Raleigh County, called the Senate's passage of the legislation "a tremendous milestone."

"I'm so glad to see our government is endeavoring to make changes in helping folks get the treatment they need."

Terry also noted how important education is for physicians and prescribers, but especially consumers.

"They need to know the dangers and the risks of how the drugs will affect their body and brain chemistry."

One Voice, with offices in Wyoming, Raleigh and Greenbrier counties, aims to educate and activate individuals through the development of community coalitions, to no longer accept or tolerate life-controlling problems.

Terry said she's seen the devastating impact of drugs in southern West Virginia.

"I've seen the deterioration substance abuse causes — the deterioration of health, mental and emotional wellbeing of the individual, deterioration of the family structure, where children are extracted from their homes."

Not only individuals and families are affected, Terry said, but the effects can be seen in the economy as well. Many businesses have reported they can't find employees who can pass drug screens, and even once a person is clean, Terry said a stigma remains.

Many drug addicts turn to crime to help fuel their habits, and their criminal record will follow them in their pursuit of employment.

"It's a trickle-down effect from top to bottom. It's the whole chain of a culture."

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Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito both said the 94-1 passage of CARA is a good step toward combating the nationwide epidemic.

"By focusing on improving and growing existing treatment and recovery programs, expanding prevention and education, and intensifying efforts to reduce the number of overdoses, this comprehensive bill will make a real difference in the lives of West Virginians," Capito said.

Both she and Manchin said this is only the first step, and everyone must work together to build upon Thursday's progress.

"We need to fight this epidemic on all fronts," Manchin said. "I will continue to fight for my other measures that will put real resources behind this fight to end the opioid epidemic because this fight is one we must win.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story