U.S. Senate duo launch caucus to fight prescription drug abuse

U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) unveiled their Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus on Friday.

The initiative aims to raise awareness and to show that the U.S. Senate is serious about assisting the millions of American families whose lives have been impacted by prescription drug abuse.

Statistics show that nearly 17,000 Americans die each year as a result of prescription opioid overdoses. Manchin and Scott think America needs to make the fight against prescription drug abuse a priority.

“Prescription drug abuse has devastating effects on thousands of families across our nation,” Scott said. “This is a problem we must tackle from every angle, and I look forward to working with Senator Manchin and our colleagues in the Senate to find solutions and save lives.”

Manchin agreed.

“Our state and our entire nation have truly reached a crisis point, and ignoring the problem is simply unacceptable,” Manchin said. “We have a responsibility – especially to our children – to stop the scourge of prescription drug abuse. Far too many Americans have been affected by this growing epidemic. Far too many families have been torn apart, and far too many lives have been lost. We must go after this problem from every angle – family assistance, counseling programs, consumer and medical education, law enforcement support, state and federal legislation – and today, the United States Senate joins the fight in one more capacity. I have made a promise to the people of West Virginia and to the American people that I will do everything I can to beat this epidemic, save hundreds of thousands of lives, and help those recovering return to the lives they once enjoyed, drug-free.”

The Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus' mission statement reads: "The Senate Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse is a bipartisan effort to raise awareness about the significant harms of prescription drug abuse. With 46 Americans dying every day from an overdose on prescription opioids, the U.S. Senate must act. The members of this caucus will work together and with stakeholders toward innovative and effective policy solutions that address prevention, treatment and more to help every community overcome this devastating problem."