[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ENDING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

  (Mr. NORCROSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. NORCROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of those 
struggling with the disease of addiction. Over the last few years, it 
has been brutal on Americans suffering from opioid use disorder--
100,000 dead within 12 months. These overdoses are horrible.
  This relentless disease has left heartbroken families across this 
country asking why there isn't more support for our loved ones in the 
grip of addiction.
  In today's paper, Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post reported 
that a cartel of clinics is trying to block legislation that would help 
address the opioid epidemic. Her article quotes a special interest 
leader saying he doesn't trust doctors.
  Seventy-seven million people lack easy access to a clinic, but he 
doesn't want his patients to be treated by doctors he doesn't trust. 
Maybe he wants to protect the monopoly of these for-profit clinics.
  It is time for us to decide that what is more important is ending the 
opioid epidemic. These cartels must stop.

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