Call to Action: March 30, 2018
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG DEALERS WILL NOT END OPIOID CRISIS
#OpioidCrisis
#DeathPenalty
#BigPharma
America’s in the throes of its deadliest drug overdose crisis, which began 20 years ago
• in 2016 overdoses killed more Americans than entire Vietnam War, gun violence, HIV/AIDS ever did in a single year, and 2017 was worse
• 2/3 of the 64,000 people dying of overdoses in 2016 were linked to prescribed or illegal opioids
The opioid crisis is extremely complicated. Experts caution that $100 billion over 5 years is probably not sufficient. To solve it requires:
• Preventing new generations of users
• Making addiction treatment easier to access than opioids/heroin
• Addressing social/economic/environmental/psychological root causes
While Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health crisis, he’s provided no leadership, offered no funding, and expounded only simplistic solutions—like the death penalty for large scale drug dealers. He failed to mention, or seek punishment, for those who fueled this crisis—the pharmaceutical companies whose misleading marketing pushed doctors to overprescribe opiates. The almost $4 billion already appropriated is only drop in the bucket, and only piecemeal legislation is pending in both houses.
Execution and incarceration won’t cure this epidemic. Instead, Congress must develop fully funded long-term strategy, focusing on . . .
Prevention and Treatment!
**ACTION 1: Call Complicit Greg Walden and our Senators**
SAMPLE SCRIPT for Pharma Lobbyist Greg Walden:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon, [zip code]. ]. I am very concerned that neither Congress nor Trump is seriously addressing the opioid crisis, and I’m appalled at Trump’s call for death sentences for large scale drug dealers rather than punishment for the pharmaceutical companies that have fueled this crisis. I am calling to ask that Mr. Walden, as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, work to fully fund long-term solutions focusing on opioid abuse prevention and opiod addiction treatment and to repeal the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which restricts the DEA’s ability to discipline opioid distributors. He must put people before the corporate profits that fuel his campaign. It’s time for Greg Walden to stop selling us out! Thank you.”
SAMPLE SCRIPT for Senators Merkley and Wyden:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned that neither Congress nor Trump is seriously addressing the opioid crisis, and I’m appalled at Trump’s call for death sentences for large scale drug dealers, rather than punishment for the pharmaceutical companies that have fueled this crisis. I am calling to ask that the Senator work (1) to repeal the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which restricts DEA’s ability to discipline opioid distributors, and (2) to fully fund long-term solutions focusing on opioid prevention and treatment. Thank you.”
**ACTION 2: Send this action to Friends and Family**
Share this post with friends and family, especially in red states. Urge them to tell their representatives to support fully funded, long-term solutions for the opioid crisis, focusing on prevention and treatment.
PHARMA LOBBYIST GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/22/17150294/congress-omnibus-bill-opioid-epidemic
https://californiahealthline.org/news/congress-tackles-the-opioid-epidemic-but-how-much-will-it-help/
https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/capitol-connector/2018/03/eight-opioid-bills-cara-2-0-slated-consideration-congress/