[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IMPROVING TREATMENT FOR PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN ACT OF 2016

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                               speech of

                           HON. BEN RAY LUJAN

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2016

  Mr. BEN RAY LUJAN of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my 
colleague's comments on this legislation, and I'm encouraged by the 
bipartisan support to advance not only my bill, but all of the 
important bills we are discussing today.
  I'd like to take a few minutes to discuss some of the stories of 
those who have faced addiction. Stories from people in my home state of 
New Mexico--who have faced the challenges of substance abuse and are 
healthier today and working to improve their communities.
  As we come here and discuss the importance of various programs and we 
debate the need for greater investments--which I think we need to 
address this crisis--let us not lose sight of the people whose lives 
are at the center of this.
  Mr. Speaker, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and 
neighbors--everyone is impacted by this drug crisis.
  I'd like to share Kayla Trujillo's story. Kayla has been in recovery 
since November of 2014 and is using her experiences to help others 
struggling with drug addiction. She is working to become a Certified 
Peer Support Worker.
  But at the age of 14, Kayla was struggling.
  ``As a young teen I had no sense of self-worth, no ability to cope 
with life, and sought things outside myself to help fill the empty void 
I felt inside,'' she wrote to me.
  She was also a straight A, honor roll student, because she knew good 
grades were a ticket to a better life. But one day, she went to her 
mom's medicine cabinet and found a green bottle labeled Percocet for 
pain and took three pills.
  She writes: ``That day I started my thirteen year love/hate affair 
with opiates that would forever change my life. Once I was physically 
dependent on opiates I took whatever means necessary to obtain my 
pills.
  ``I resorted to faking injuries, stealing my friends' and family 
members' pain pills, buying pills off the street, and eventually 
trading sex for pills just to support my daily pain pill habit . . . 
One day I ran out of pills, was very ill, and there were no pills to be 
sold so I picked up heroin to stay well. Once introduced to heroin I 
knew I had to change my way of life before it was too late.''
  Kayla checked herself into a rehab facility and got help. But there 
are too many people who don't have access to the treatment they need.
  I'd also like to share the story of Joshua Trujillo. Joshua is a 
Certified Peer Support Worker at Inside Out Recovery in Espanola, New 
Mexico. He entered recovery after spending 11 years on the streets 
using drugs and alcohol. He wrote to me to share his story, and I'd 
like to read from that letter:
  ``I was in and out of jail for various drug related crimes. I would 
steal and lie to everyone that came in contact with me just to support 
my addiction. I attempted to abstain from drugs many times through my 
own means and would never succeed. In addition, I had been through drug 
court programs and licensed therapists and could never stay clean. I 
found it difficult to relate to anyone that had not experienced 
addiction firsthand.
  ``In August of 2011 I entered the doors of Inside Out Recovery where 
I met a Certified Peer Support Worker. Through the CPSW's own 
experience with addiction I came to believe that I could live my life 
without drugs. I had finally found someone I could relate to and learn 
from. Our talks were invaluable in my early recovery because I knew 
that if the CPSW could stay clean that I could too. The seed of 
recovery had been planted with that CPSW's experience and I immediately 
knew I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life toward staying clean and 
helping the addict that still suffers.''
  Joshua and Kayla's stories of addiction are all too common, and their 
stories of recovery are ones that we must ensure become more common as 
well.
  We are taking important action on the floor today, but let's make 
sure that we are providing the resources necessary to address this 
crisis.

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