[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            OPIOID EPIDEMIC

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, the epidemic of 
opioid and substance abuse has wreaked havoc throughout our country. 
More than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid addiction. For years, 
the situation only seemed to get worse and worse. Unfortunately, my 
home State of Kentucky saw the pain firsthand. We are among the hardest 
hit States by this crisis.
  Last week, both Kentucky and the entire Nation received a glimmer of 
long-awaited good news. Preliminary figures from the National Center 
for Health Statistics show that last year, 2018, saw the first--the 
first--nationwide decline in drug overdose deaths since 1990. For 28 
straight years, overdose deaths climbed. But in 2018, that tragic 
number finally dropped. It was approximately a 5-percent decline 
nationwide.
  In Kentucky, the Bluegrass State saw overdose deaths fall by nearly 
15 percent last year, the largest drop in our State in more than a 
decade. After years of working and waiting, we are finally seeing 
progress in the fight to save lives. These numbers didn't happen on 
their own. Our comprehensive response involves countless law 
enforcement officers, medical professionals, educators, community 
leaders, and family members and friends of those affected.
  I am proud of that. Several times in recent years, this Senate has 
done our part to bolster this fight with sweeping--sweeping--bipartisan 
action. We passed wide-ranging legislation to backstop the work on the 
frontlines with new programs, new funding for research, and new Federal 
resources for the communities most in need.
  Just last year, we passed another landmark bill to attack the crisis 
of abuse from every single angle. Among its many features, the 
legislation makes it harder to traffic illegal drugs across the border; 
it supports mothers and babies struggling with opioid withdrawal; and 
it even includes one of my provisions to help those in recovery find a 
good job and stable housing as they work toward long-term recovery.
  I am particularly proud of Kentucky's own role in leading in this 
recovery. Researchers at the University of Kentucky received the 
largest Federal grant in the school's history to fight opioid abuse all 
across our State. I was pleased to help them secure these resources as 
they aim to achieve a 40-percent reduction of opioid overdose deaths in 
3 years.
  In my hometown of Louisville, a private sector research facility 
received FDA approval for a medicine to ease withdrawal symptoms. I 
have worked to secure the inclusion of more Kentucky counties under the 
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program and increase coordination 
among local, State, and Federal law enforcement on drug interdiction.
  This tireless work by Kentuckians has helped write the headlines we 
are celebrating today, but, of course, there is still much more to do. 
We know this is not the end of the battle against addiction--not even 
close--but it is encouraging to see the reduction in overdose deaths 
across the country.
  As majority leader, I will continue to fight to ensure Kentucky and 
the Nation have the resources to build on this progress, prevent and 
treat addiction, and ultimately save lives.

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