The opioid crisis in rural America

In December 2021 there were 837 reported opioid overdoses in Anne Arundel County alone. Many rural areas in Maryland report similar numbers and have fewer resources to address opioid addiction. It is difficult to find a person in Maryland whose life has not been touched by opioid addiction, whether that be second-hand experience witnessed in a loved one or friend, or personal experience of struggling with addiction. In December 2021 there were 837 reported opioid overdoses in Anne Arundel County alone. Many rural areas in Maryland report similar numbers and have fewer resources to address opioid addiction. It is difficult to find a person in Maryland whose life has not been touched by opioid addiction, whether that be second-hand experience witnessed in a loved one or friend, or personal experience of struggling with addiction. In my previous article, [More results, less politics: Blunting the opioid crisis in Maryland’s rural communities]( I discussed several ways in which Maryland could produce results in combating this epidemic. I want to expand on the use of harm reduction and housing initiatives here. We have continued to see progress in the availability of harm reduction tools, specifically naloxone (hailed for its capability to reverse opioid overdoses), recovery services, and community education. Since the start of 2022, over $114,000 has been granted to one rural county in Maryland to increase naloxone availability and assist peer recovery services. In another, funding was granted to increase community awareness. These services have a tremendous impact on the crisis and their merit demonstrates the importance of bipartisan support for funding to reduce fatalities. However, overdose deaths continue to rise throughout Maryland, signifying that our efforts are just the beginning. There has also been progress with supportive housing initiatives. In 2018 Congress, with bipartisan support, passed the SUPPORT Act, aimed at developing a blueprint for allocating funds for stable housing for persons recovering from addiction. Maryland received over a million dollars for supportive housing in 2021, which has greatly helped in providing housing to many recovering persons. Such bipartisan efforts must continue to deal with this complex and destructive issue, and I will be a part of them. I bring 30 years of experience to this campaign. My experience allows me to understand the implications of different policy initiatives and the vast level of coordination required between federal, state, and local regulations. This epidemic is one of the most critical public health crises in recent memory, and the First District needs true leadership experience to navigate it. Opioids are killing our family members and Congress needs sustained action to blunt the trauma occurring in our rural communities. We need to invest in a delicate balance of enforcement and rehabilitation. Andy Harris professes to care deeply about opiates coming in through the southern border, but remains silent on the true culprit, China, who produces the fentanyl that is killing our loved ones. Elect me, and together we can build a better future for Maryland’s First District. [Thanks for reading and I would truly appreciate your support in my campaign for Congress. Can you rush in a donation of $30 today?]( - Dave Harden Dave Harden is a Democrat running for Maryland's 1st Congressional District. Dave's running to replace Andy Harris and will help the 1st District unlock its extraordinary potential. Support Dave with a donation today. [CONTRIBUTE ]( Paid for by Harden for Congress Harden for Congress P.O. Box 584 Hampstead, MD 21074 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please [unsubscribe](.