During interviews on CNN and Fox News, Senator Portman discussed last night’s historic 92-2 vote on his Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA). CARA is widely supported by more than 200 anti-drug groups throughout Ohio and the Country because it promotes education and prevention so we can stop drug abuse before it begins, promotes treatment alternatives, helps veterans, and helps women and babies. The president is now expected to sign the bill into law.
The interviews can be found below:
Cuomo: “Let me ask you this. The opioid bill passes the senate. Obama says he is in favor of it, but it doesn't do enough, the president says. You care about this issue very intensely. It hits you at home, but you know it is a scourge across the country that many have been ignoring to their own disadvantage. What do you believe about this bill and what do you believe about the future?”
Portman: “It is historic. It’s really the first time Congress has gone on record to say that addiction is a disease and ought to be treated as a disease. You know, if it were cancer, we wouldn't be allowing this to happen. So I think it is amazing. There are about 200 groups around the country, Chris, who represent people who are in the trenches on treatment and recovery and also education and prevention, the law enforcement community who strongly supported the bill, they helped write the bill. The White House helped write the bill. It was totally a nonpartisan process. We took three years to do it. I’m just excited we’re finally at this point. Let’s face it. It’s tough to get stuff done in this town, even if it makes sense. This one clearly made sense. It took us awhile, we had to get it through the House and the Senate, different bills and put them together, but it will make a difference in the lives of the people I represent. I think that’s what is important. Funding is critical, of course. It increases the amount that Congress is authorized to spend on this by a substantial amount – $189 million a year, which is a big spending increase. I would like to see even more and I hope we can do that.”
Cuomo: “What will it do and what still needs to be done?”
Portman: “It takes a comprehensive approach. It funds additional prevention and education, but also more treatment and longer term recovery. The first bill I’m told ever in Congress that really focuses on the recovery reside of this, as one recovering addict told me recently, it was easier to get clean and it is harder to stay clean. It is about a longer term recovery focus and it helps in terms of getting the prescription drugs off the street. It stops some of the overprescribing, prescription drug monitoring programs, helps people to encourage people to get rid of their drugs if they have them. These are narcotic, addictive prescription drugs, usually painkillers, and it also helps law enforcement. It is a comprehensive approach. It gives them better training on Narcan, also called Naloxone, which is that miracle drug to deal with overdoses. And so, it’s broad; it doesn’t say there’s one angle, there’s every angle you have to combat this on. I think if we do that, we can begin to turn the tide. It is unfortunately growing right now, the problem is growing. More people are becoming addicted. More people are overdosing. More people are putting their drugs ahead of their family and their job. Unfortunately, crime is increasing so, it’s timely to get this out there and help save lives and help allow people to achieve their purpose in life.”
Cuomo: “As I told you the last time, I share your importance with this, and people in the frontlines keep saying the same thing to me. This is potentially worse than crack. So senator, as I said before, you let us know how to help on this issue by getting information out, we will do so. Senator Portman. I appreciate it.”
Portman: “I appreciate it. You’re already doing it. By doing that, you’re going to help save lives. I appreciate your interest in it, Chris. Take care.”
Bill Hemmer: “Important Topic: 92 to 2 the senate passed your opioid bill. What is happening in America where this is required, Senator?”
Portman : “Yeah, what’s happening is people are becoming addicted and we talk a lot about the overdoses and the deaths, which is horrible, 129 people dying every day, but it’s worse than that – as horrible as that is, it’s the casualties of this epidemic, those who may not die of an overdose, may be saved by this miracle drug Narcan or not overdose – but still, the drug is everything, it’s breaking up families and creating much more crime in our communities, it’s affecting our economy, obviously, and keeping people from achieving their God-given purpose in life in every respect, and this is something we need to address. This federal legislation will help. It’s a new approach to it, and a comprehensive approach, and I hope we can get the president to sign it and get it out to our communities to help right away.”
Hemmer: “Thank you, Senator.”
Portman continues to put a national spotlight on CARA and this heroin epidemic. In interview after interview after interview after interview after interview after interview after interview after interview after interview after interview after interview and 13 speeches on the Senate floor, Portman has left no stone unturned in his efforts to raise public awareness on this issue and pass CARA, which will provide immediate assistance to the thousands of families across Ohio and America that have been devastated by the heroin epidemic.
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