Commentary: WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that they are urging President Trump to support a Senate proposal to dedicate $25 billion over two years to combat the opioid epidemic in New Mexico and across the country. In a letter to the president, the senators noted that although Trump in October declared the opioid crisis a “public health emergency,” he has done little since then even as addiction is ravaging communities and claiming 142 lives per day nationwide.
The senators also asked that Trump take specific action to help ensure smaller states like New Mexico receive adequate funding. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 500 New Mexicans died of opioid overdose in 2016 alone. New Mexico ranks 12th in the nation for rate of overdoses.
"It is clear that opioid abuse does not discriminate and causes devastation among all walks of life and across most communities. New Mexico is no different," the senators wrote. "Despite the best efforts of many in our communities, this epidemic will only continue to get worse without strong governmental action, including adequate financial resources. We must address this issue now. This means making sure that significant funding for evidence-based approaches to prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies are available to the many Americans who are suffering at the hands of this epidemic."
The senators noted that while the 21st Century Cures Act provided much needed funding to help states fight the opioid epidemic, states like New Mexico – with smaller populations and higher mortality rates – have not received their fair share of funding.
"While we welcome any action to combat this crisis, this declaration falls far short of what your own commission called for and what you yourself repeatedly promised the American people," the senators continued. "Americans all across our great nation are counting on your administration, in conjunction with Congress, to lead the way on combating this epidemic…. Americans not only need but want bold action if we are going to effectively fight this epidemic."
The letter is available below and here.