February 08, 2018

Manchin releases report detailing how the opioid epidemic impacts people of all ages

Washington, D.C. – Following a Charleston Gazette Mail report that 12 percent of West Virginia’s GDP goes to costs related to the opioid epidemic, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released a report detailing how the opioid epidemic impacts people of all ages in West Virginia and across the country and how that affects our economy.

“America’s current opioid epidemic has swept through the mountains of West Virginia, taking victim not only users of these highly addictive drugs, but also their families and loved ones,” Senator Manchin said. “Opioids do not discriminate by age, income-level, or employment-status. Rightfully, discussions about the current crisis focus on solutions for individuals with substance use disorder but often we forget those who are impacted without ever swallowing a pill or injecting a needle.

“This report highlights the impact of opioids on the people who use them and their families throughout all phases of life. By bringing attention to the overarching negative effects of opioid use disorder, we can better understand how opioids catastrophically impact everyone at every age.”

To read the Senator Manchin’s full report, click here.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Manchin is fighting to include significant funding the FY2018 spending package to properly fight the opioid epidemic. For a full list of Senator Manchin’s efforts on drug abuse, click here.

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