KDSN RADIO News
Bill Passes to Combat Rural Opioid Abuse
A bill in Congress to prevent opioid addiction, overdose-related deaths in rural communities has been signed into law. The Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act was Passed by Congress with broad bipartisan support. The push to pass the bill was led, in part, by Rep. Randy Feenstra. In 2021, more than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdose. Feenstra says the signing of the bill is a critical step in curbing the opioid crisis.
“Fentanyl and other drugs coming into Rural America – Rural Iowa – and here’s an opportunity to create prevention on these drugs.”
He says there’s a misconception that drug addiction doesn’t happen in rural America.
“If you look at the statistics, rural communities have higher addiction rates than urban centers.
He says this bill will directly help Iowa families and equip healthcare workers with tools to treat addiction, as well as providing first responders with support they need to save lives.
“Rural communities, rural healthcare facilities and nonprofits can apply for the grant through the DOJ to help with the prevention, treatment and recovery services for individuals who get addicted to opioids.
Feenstra says fentanyl is a terrible drug that has surged in recent years.
So we have to make sure we’re doing prevention and treatment service in rural communities and trying to stop this.
The Rural Opioid Prevention Act is supported by the National Rural Health Association and the Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association.
