In the News

The following story was published by WBIW on Nov. 9, 2017.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) participated in an Education and the Workforce Committee hearing today to discuss the impact of the growing opioid crisis on communities across Indiana.

"In Indiana, opioids are wrecking communities and breaking hearts all across our state," Messer said during the hearing. "Opioids are also creating an economic crisis as employers are having a hard time finding the workforce they need. President Trump was right to call this a public health emergency because it's become clear that more needs to be done."

In Indiana, drug overdose fatalities have increased by more than 500 percent since 1999. The total annual cost of drug overdoses exceeds $1 billion in Indiana alone.

Messer also applauded Gov. Eric Holcomb for his recent statewide efforts to tackle the public health crisis.

"This is an all-hands-on-deck approach and it's critical we work with state leaders like Governor Holcomb as well as the President to come up with real solutions to combat this devastating epidemic," Messer said.

Witnesses at the joint subcommittee hearing entitled, "Close to Home: How Opioids are Impacting Communities" included public health and public school officials as well as local workers from addiction recovery centers.