U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) recently outlined her efforts to tackle a nationwide opioid addiction epidemic through stricter laws, public education and outreach, and support for drug treatment.
Approximately 52,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2015 alone, with opioid addiction related to prescription pain relievers or heroin largely to blame.
South Dakota has not experienced the opioid crisis to the extent of many other states, Noem wrote in a column published on Friday. “But a recent report found prescriptions are increasing here too, reaching the highest number of opioid prescriptions ever recorded in South Dakota in 2016,” she said.
Noem introduced legislation that passed the House in June, the Supporting Families in Substance Abuse Treatment Act, H.R. 2857, that would prevent addiction recovery from separating families. The bill would allow children to be placed with parents in licensed residential family-based treatment facilities rather than foster care.
“More specifically, the proposals look to strengthen families during drug addiction treatment and amplify efforts to prevent the child abuse and neglect that can result from drug use,” she said.
Noem also highlighted new training programs that aim to educate doctors in South Dakota and elsewhere about how and when to prescribe opioids — as well as her support for efforts to crack down on illegal drugs.
“I strongly support legislation, for instance, that cracks down on Mexican drug traffickers and those who help facilitate their illicit activities at the border; this includes a vote to fully fund President Trump’s border security agenda,” Noem said. “And I am fighting to make sure local law enforcement officers have the resources and training they need.”