DAYTON, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH) hosted a roundtable discussion on the opioid and heroin epidemic in Dayton. Portman and Turner were joined by Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer, first responders, drug addiction and treatment stakeholders, and other community leaders to discuss ways in which the federal government can be a better partner with state and local practices to combat this epidemic that has devastated southwest Ohio.
“I want to thank Sheriff Plummer, our first responders, and all those on the front lines of this epidemic for your daily fight against this addiction epidemic,” said Senator Portman. “We’re facing a national crisis, but the battle against this rising tide of addiction won’t be won in Washington; it’ll be won in local communities like Dayton. But Washington can be a better partner with them and make sure they have the tools and the resources needed to win this battle, and that’s why CARA’s comprehensive approach is so important. I recently worked to secure $37 million in new funding to help get CARA’s grant programs up and running as quickly as possible, and I will continue to partner with community leaders in Dayton to make a difference for the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who’ve been impacted by this disease.”
“The opioid epidemic is a crisis that continues to take a toll on our communities here in Ohio and across the country. I continue to work with those in our community who work to end this epidemic each day to identify ways we can provide them the resources needed to end this fight,” said Congressman Turner. “I would like to thank Senator Portman and Sheriff Plummer for their work to make sure our first responders and law enforcement are able meet the epidemic head on. Today’s discussion has placed us one step closer to working toward effective solutions that we can implement in our community and help those who battle this addiction every day.”
As the author of the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA), which was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2016, Senator Portman has helped lead the national effort to combat the drug epidemic that is devastating communities across Ohio and our country. The legislation ensures that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that have proven effective in local communities so that it can make a difference in people’s lives. Recently, he secured $37 million in new funding to help get CARA’s grant programs up and running, and he is pushing the Obama administration to implement the law as quickly as possible. Portman has also introduced the Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act, which is designed to help stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers here in the United States. Earlier this year, Portman joined Sheriff Plummer to introduce the Front Door Initiative in Montgomery County and the southwest Ohio region to help respond to the heroin epidemic.
Congressman Turner has been working with the community to draft legislation to help those who have been affected by the opioid epidemic starting with children born addicted to heroin and working to ensure those who are incarcerated for opioid abuse receive the treatment they need to recover.
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