There are threats that face our country each and every day. There are also threats that Missourians face on a daily basis. Currently, much of the country, along with many individuals in the state knows someone or has personally dealt with the effects of opioid abuse.

The opioid epidemic is real. It’s happening in nearly every town, in every county, in every state. In Missouri alone, the drug overdose death rate has increased by four percent from 2013 to 2014. Approximately seven percent of high school students in the state of Missouri have misused prescription pain medication by age 17 and Missouri non-medical opioid use among individuals between the ages of 18-25 exceeds the national rate.

Nationally, 44 American lives are lost each day to prescription opioid abuse and many Missourians have friends, neighbors, or family members that have been impacted negatively by this epidemic. The numbers really hit home when you dig into the county-level data to see the number of people in our local areas that are being affected. For example, in Jefferson County in 2014 there were 73 drug induced deaths and in St. Charles County there were 66. Those deaths ripple throughout communities. It’s clear that more must be done.

This spring, the House of Representatives passed a total of 18 bills that ranged from helping our nation’s veterans combat opioid abuse to assisting infants who are born with drug addiction.

One of the key bills in this package is the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which was passed with a vote of 407-5, and recently signed into law. CARA strengthens prevention programs, supports law enforcement efforts, and expands access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services. It also requires the government to advance education and awareness of opioid abuse happening in our communities. By ensuring our local officials, leaders, and health-care professionals are all better educated and on the same page, we can work toward a safer, healthier Missouri.

CARA represents a shift in strategy to combat this epidemic, but real change will not happen overnight. We have to continue to look out for our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family members. We want to make sure we can direct those in need to the correct resources to ensure they get the help that is needed.

I will continue to meet with doctors, nurses, treatment professionals, law enforcement officers, and families to hear their stories and to learn about what more needs to be done. That is the very least I can do for the families and communities across Missouri that have been impacted by the opioid crisis.