Op-Ed By Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: Drug Epidemic Demands Action

As I travel across West Virginia, I hear about the drug epidemic that is devastating the lives of too many families.

With our state leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths — more than twice the national average — our communities are grappling with the seriousness and pain of addiction.

Sadly, drug addiction is a disease that knows no boundaries. Our friends, loved ones and neighbors have all been affected.

The urgency of this epidemic demands that we change the course. With these startling statistics and the tragic stories that have become all too familiar, it can be easy to surrender to the weight of this epidemic.

But as one of the states hardest hit, we are in a position to lead by example, continuing our work at the federal, state and local levels to end the scourge of addiction.

Throughout West Virginia, efforts are underway that should give us optimism. It will not be easy, but we can overcome this drug epidemic.

Local communities, law enforcement, health professionals and others across the state are already working tirelessly to help those in need and break the stigma associated with addiction.

The initiative shown by the City of Huntington, Cabell County, Marshall University and others resulted in a generous donation that will help prevent drug-related overdose deaths. Recently, I met with leaders in Huntington to discuss limiting the drug supply, increasing prevention efforts and making treatment more available. Huntington’s bottom-up approach should serve as an example for other cities confronting the drug epidemic.

Nineteen West Virginia counties have been designated as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, enhancing our ability to better manage drug enforcement operations and improve public health and safety. By coordinating efforts across the state, we can strengthen our defense against this disease.

With my support, Congress recently provided funding to expand prevention efforts in West Virginia, including improved data collection, and new treatment services and training for our service members who are battling addiction and the first responders who are responding to drug overdoses.

In the Senate, I am leading efforts to improve prescribing practices and prevent overprescribing. Too many stories of addiction start with patients taking prescription painkillers after suffering an injury or undergoing surgery. Implementing clear guidelines for prescribing opioids for these incidents will help prevent future cases of drug abuse and addiction.

We must also protect the most vulnerable victims of this epidemic. Every 25 minutes, a baby suffering from opiate withdrawal is born. In West Virginia, that rate is approximately three times the national average.

Comprehensive treatment should be available to help babies born with neonatal absence syndrome and their mothers battling addiction. The bipartisan Cradle Act, which I recently introduced in the Senate, will do just that.

Efforts that help West Virginians also extend beyond our state. On the campaign trail, presidential candidates are sharing their own personal experiences with addiction. In doing so, they are bringing more attention to the challenges facing small and rural states like ours. President Obama recognized the dire situation in our state while visiting Charleston last year.

The Senate currently is considering the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a bipartisan bill to address the drug epidemic by expanding prevention and education efforts, and promoting resources for treatment and recovery. It includes reforms to help law enforcement respond to the drug epidemic and supports long-term recovery programs. The legislation also expands the availability of naloxone, a life-saving drug that helps to reverse overdoses, and creates disposal sites for unwanted prescriptions.

For those of us who are actively engaged in efforts to curb this epidemic, we must keep fighting. By taking a broad and balanced approach to address this growing crisis, we can save lives and make meaningful strides toward a drug-free West Virginia.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has been working to address West Virginia’s drug epidemic since being sworn into the Senate in January 2015.