Put out the fire

Stopping America’s opioid epidemic requires more resources than we are expending

As we begin a new year, it’s natural to look forward, but we should not forget the terrible toll the opioid crisis has exacted on our state. Sadly, more than 500 New Mexicans died of drug overdose deaths last year alone.

Across this county, there were 52,404 deaths in 2017 and more than 560,000 deaths between 1999 and now.

That’s a half million people who missed the holiday dinner with their family or their daughter’s softball game. Half a million who weren’t able to help their son with their math homework or kiss their spouse good night.

That’s brothers, sisters, parents, friends and children that we lost too soon because, in part, Congress has not responded forcefully enough to this crisis.

Last Congress, Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and 21st Century Cures Act, and provided $1 billion in funding for two years to help with prevention and treatment efforts.

These were steps in the right direction, but these efforts alone are not enough.

As I have traveled around New Mexico, I have heard from those on the front lines of the drug crisis that the funding passed last year is helpful, but hard to use. In part, this is because of the short two-year funding period, which impacts communities’ ability to plan for the long term, hire needed staff and expand capacity.

We know that in too many areas like New Mexico, there are simply not enough people and resources. Many want help and can’t get it.

I am reminded of a story relayed to me by one of my constituents, John, who had stopped using heroin on his own, but felt as if he was going to relapse and sought help at a local treatment facility.

John was turned away and told to come back only when he started using again because they lacked the capacity to treat patients who were not active drug users. That’s simply not right.

To really expand the treatment, prevention and wrap-around services that our constituents need, we must increase funding and create stability.

We need to give local governments and organizations the ability to plan — and not fear losing vital support from Congress. Most of all, we need to give John a place to go after he’s fought a tough fight on his own.

That’s why I introduced the Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act to continue the funding to combat the opioid epidemic we passed in 21st Century Cures for an additional five years.

However, this still isn’t enough, which is why we must look at new efforts to drive vital investments to help those in need and address the barriers to appropriate, quality and accessible treatment.

These barriers include a decaying rural mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure, lack of regional coordination of treatment resources, lack of support for rural physicians providing substance abuse treatment, administrative barriers against the most effective form of opioid abuse treatment, and a shortage of rural physicians who provide Medication Assisted Treatment.

As policymakers, we must recognize that ‘hoping for the best’ is not valid public policy. There is no quick-fix to solve this opioid epidemic.

We need to advance serious legislation that takes into account long-term planning for the federal government, states and communities. We need to bring it to the floor of the House and we need to send it to the president’s desk. We must not short-change the Medicaid program, which continues to provide so much of the resources and structure for drug prevention and treatment in New Mexico and nationwide.

I fear that until we recognize this fact, we will continue to lose brothers, sisters, parents, friends and children in 2018 and beyond.