[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           A COMMUNITY APPROACH TO CURBING THE OPIOID CRISIS

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                         HON. RICHARD M. NOLAN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hard-working 
medical professionals and law enforcement staff of Morrison County for 
their successful work in the fight against opioid abuse.
   The fight against the epidemic is centered at the St. Gabriel's 
Hospital in Little Falls, Minnesota, where a collaborative care team 
focuses on the unique needs of patients to help them on their 
individual roads to recovery.
   Recently, I was pleased to host the leaders of the collaborative 
care team at a briefing here in Washington, so that they could share 
best-practices with Congressional staff. Their comprehensive model for 
dealing with the crisis focuses on the causes of opioid addiction and 
utilizes systems like Minnesota's Prescription Monitoring Program to 
prevent the overprescribing of pain medication. St. Gabriel's approach 
involves the entire community and creating healing, holistic 
partnerships between heath care providers and the community based on 
self-determination, safety and respect.
   I ask my colleagues in Congress to join me in recognizing the 
dedicated professionals at St. Gabriel's for their outstanding work 
which has reclaimed and saved so many precious lives.

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