WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) outlined several next steps to combat the opioid epidemic that has devastated West Virginia and other states. These included solutions like cutting off the supply of lethal synthetic drugs and expanding access to treatment for those battling addiction.
Watch Senator Capito’s full speech here.
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Mister/Madame President, many of you may have recently read about the city of Huntington, West Virginia. Huntington sits on the Ohio River at the corner of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. It is the home of Marshall University.
“One month ago today on Monday, August 15th, in just a four hour period, it was the site of 28 overdoses. Responding to this mass overdose occupied all the ambulances in the city and more than a shift’s worth of police officers. Of the 28 people affected, 26 were revived using naloxone, a life-saving drug that helps to reverse overdoes.
“However, the heroin they had used was likely laced with a substance so potent that the ordinary dose of naloxone wasn't enough. Responders had to use two, sometimes three doses, to bring them back to life.
“Rashes of overdoses due to particularly strong batches of heroin or, more recently, heroin laced with fentanyl or carfentanil, a drug used to sedate elephants and other large animals that is 100 times as potent as fentanyl, are sadly not rare.
“Versions of this chaotic scene are happening day after day, in big cities and small towns, in Kentucky, New Hampshire, Ohio and Florida.
“But what makes the recent spate of overdoses so noteworthy is that Huntington is a city that knows it has a problem and is doing all the right things to fight it.
“In 2014, the city’s mayor started an Office of Drug Control Policy to address addiction.
“They staffed this Office with people who had intimate knowledge of the problem: a former police chief; a fire department captain, who is also a registered nurse and works at the local hospital; and a police department criminal intelligence analyst.
“They’ve created a strategic plan which focuses on three general principles: prevention; treatment and law enforcement.
“The plan embraces harm reduction strategies, including weekly training for citizens on how to use naloxone, which prevent people from causing irreversible damage to themselves and others.
“They’ve expanded their adult drug court and received a grant to launch the Women’s Empowerment and Addiction Recovery Program, a specialized track within the drug court that will expand services to address the needs of drug-addicted prostitutes.
“And even in the face of the overdoses they are making progress. In fact, cooperation among local agencies and the sad reality that they are well-practiced at responding to overdoses has been credited with the 26 lives saved.
“And while the overdose rate in Huntington has remained steadily high, the number of deaths from overdose has fallen something officials see as an encouraging sign.
“Jim Johnson, director of the Huntington Mayor's Office of Drug Control Policy, has said:
“‘What we are seeing around the country is overdose deaths are going up with the rise of fentanyl and others. It's not good that our overdose rate is holding, but compared to others having real increases, it's encouraging. And we are extremely happy the death rate is down.’
“As I’ve heard from West Virginians and read local and national news accounts about this rash of overdoses, I think about what we have done and need to do to help cities all over the nation.
“The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act or CARA marked a big step forward. It reflects some of the best practices we seen in places like Huntington.
“It includes reforms to help law enforcement respond to this epidemic, such as the successful drug court programs that operate in West Virginia and many other states.
“It expands the availability of naloxone and allows funds to be used for follow-up services for those who receive another chance at life.
“I proudly voted for CARA and believe it is an excellent first step, but it is exactly that – a first step.
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“Now we must take a fresh look at this epidemic. An epidemic that is threatening a generation that should be our best and brightest.
“We must look at ways to stop the drugs from getting to our communities –
“One solution is the Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention or STOP Act recently introduced by Senators Portman, Ayotte and Johnson.
“The STOP Act, which I recently became a cosponsor of, is designed to stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders and address any gaps in mail security.
“Earlier this year, I announced that the DEA established a tactical diversion squad in Clarksburg, West Virginia. It will greatly enhance law enforcement efforts to stay one step ahead of this epidemic.
“Programs like HIDTA or the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program are crucial in helping to coordinate initiatives that reduce drug use and abuse in communities.
“We must embrace and intensify prevention strategies in our schools, community centers and after-school programs.
“Our youth cannot think this epidemic is acceptable or the ‘new normal.’
“We must ensure that when someone decides they want treatment for their drug use they have access to this treatment.
“September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
“Today, Senator Murphy of Connecticut and I are offering a resolution which honors the significant achievements of those citizens who are in recovery.
“The resolution also recognizes the nation-wide need for increased access to treatment.
“This is an area where we have more work to do.
“We must have the detox beds available and the workforce trained and ready to assist those seeking treatment.
“We also must make sure a range of treatment options are available. There is definitely not a one size fits all solution.
“Each addict found their way to addiction in a different way and each must figure their own path out.
“Whether through in-patient rehab, peer-to peer rehab, medication-assisted therapy, a twelve step program, or most likely a combination of these and other options.
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“It is also essential we remember that recovery does not end after an addict finishes treatment.
“Services need to be available to assist with their transition back into society.
“We must look at the collateral effects substance use has on our communities, whether through increased violent crime, child neglect and abuse or disease, especially hepatitis and HIV given the rise in heroin use.
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“Are their immediate solutions for all of these problems? No, but like Huntington, we must come to terms with the extent of the problem in order to know what solutions make sense.
“And like Huntington, progress is going to be incremental and is going to take time. We can begin to tackle some of these problems through commonsense changes in policy.
“One example is Jessie’s Law, a bill named after a West Virginian. She was a daughter, a sister, and an addict in recovery.
“Following surgery for a running injury, despite her best efforts and those of her family, she was discharged from the hospital with a prescription for 50 oxycodone pills and later fatally overdosed.
“By amending the privacy regulations for persons with substance use disorders, we can ensure that these individuals receive the safe, effective, coordinated care that they need and prevent other tragedies like Jessie’s from occurring.
“I recognize that these problems are also going to take additional funding.
“As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have worked to ensure that resources are going to programs that best meet a state’s needs, whether it is HIDTA, the DoD’s Counterdrug program or Substance Abuse Grants.
“In the FY17 Labor HHS Appropriations bill, there is a $126 million increase for programs focused on fighting opioid abuse.
“In bills passed by the Committee, funding to address heroin and opioid abuse is more than double last year’s levels.
“However, I also know this problem can’t be solved simply by throwing money at it. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop additional policies that tackle these problems.
“We must consider all options, including working with state and local officials to learn what is working and what is not working in our communities.
“I will keep fighting for the veteran who relies on the VA programs to help treat their opioid addiction, the newborn born dependent on opioids, the addict who’s willing to seek treatment, and every other person whose life is touched by this disease.
“I will keep fighting for cities like Huntington who even in their darkest hour continue to move forward to a brighter drug-free future.
“Thank you, and I yield the floor.”
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