Press Releases

This week, the House of Representatives passed eighteen bills to address the rash of opioid addictions plaguing communities throughout America. There are an estimated 6.5 million prescription drug abusers, with 44 dying every day as a result of prescription painkiller overdoses.

Congressman French Hill (AR-02) and Senator John Boozman (AR) also recently assisted the Benton Police Department in Operation Medicine Cabinet XII, collecting 1,245 pounds of unused prescription drugs and getting them off the street and out of the hands of potential abusers.

Following this week’s legislative activity to combat opioid addiction, Congressman Hill released the below statement:

“The ongoing overdose crisis in the United States causes the death of tens of thousands of Americans each year. It is critical that we act now to avert these tragedies and provide effective treatment to those with addiction. This week, the House took important steps to address the epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose and help Americans reclaim their lives from this horrible affliction.

  “This is some of the most important work we will do this year, and I am particularly proud to have supported H.R. 4063, the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act. This bill will help address the over-prescribing of opioids to our nation’s veterans that has led to addiction and death.

“I will continue to work with our communities and law enforcement to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse and support effective education and treatment programs to curb this alarming trend not just for our veterans, but for all Americans who struggle with opioid addiction.”