Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) this week introduced a resolution designating October as “National Substance Abuse Prevention Month,” to help raise awareness about substance use and misuse in the United States.
“Substance abuse affects Americans from all walks of life. While we’ve done much to address addiction and abuse at the federal level, there is more work to be done. I’m glad to join this bipartisan resolution with my colleagues to raise awareness about substance abuse, the particular obstacles during the COVID pandemic, and the many negative impacts it has on individuals and families in our country,” Grassley said.
“In 2019, an estimated 72,000 American lives, including 6,000 Californians, were lost to drug overdoses that were largely preventable,” Feinstein said. “Communities nationwide are reporting higher levels of substance abuse, which are being exacerbated by the social isolation and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Congress has taken steps to address the nation’s drug use epidemic, including enacting the SUPPORT Act in 2018, we must do more to support programs that help prevent substance abuse from ever starting. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this resolution and help raise awareness about our nation’s drug use epidemic.”
Full text of the resolution can be found HERE.
