The National Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit

Congressman Carter at the National Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta

This week I had the privilege of participating in the National Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta. The battle against prescription drug abuse is ongoing and constant vigilance is necessary to prevent the illegal procurement and use of prescription drugs. As a pharmacist for more than thirty years, I’ve seen this epidemic firsthand through attempts of illegal drug purchases and fraudulent prescriptions. I have also seen how vital these medications are to those who are truly suffering from pain and illness. This is a fight we cannot afford to ignore because the people who truly lose are those who legitimately need these medications the most.

The use of opioid painkillers in the United States has risen rapidly in recent years, going from 76 million prescriptions in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013. The rise of prescription opioid abuse has led to a 3.4-fold increase in the number of overdose deaths from prescription opioid pain relievers from 2001 to 2014. Today, according to the CDC, 44 people in the United States die every day from overdoses of prescription painkillers and drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States.

In addition to prescription drug abuse, heroin addiction and abuse has also reached epidemic levels. Of the 47,055 deaths caused by drug overdoses in 2014, 18,893 were due to prescription pain relievers and 10,574 were related to heroin.

This isn’t a partisan issue. This is an issue the House, the Senate, and the Administration all need to address. The House has passed several pieces of legislation to address opioid abuse and the Senate recently passed their version of the legislation. Together, we are working to send legislation to the President's desk. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is working on proposing new guidance and assistance to help states and healthcare professionals battle this epidemic.

In the end, we must all work as a team to address and end this serious issue that our nation is facing.

from our Nation's Capitol LIX

Tuesday, March 29, 2016: After spending the weekend in Washington, I fly back home today, if only for a few hours, before heading up to Atlanta to speak at the National Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit. While at the Capitol yesterday, we experienced an incident that reminds all of us of how careful we must be in today’s world. Police at a security checkpoint at the Capitol Visitor Center shot and arrested a man after he pulled a weapon while trying to enter the complex. The Capitol was full of visitors during spring break and for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. At least one female bystander was injured in the incident as the entire Capitol was placed on lock down for a few hours, and the Capitol Visitor Center was closed for the remainder of the day. While home for a few hours today, I have the honor of speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital of Savannah.

Congressman Carter at the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital of Savannah Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

This beautiful, state of the art building is the only freestanding rehabilitation hospital in our region and is a great addition to the level of health care services that are provided in Southeast Georgia.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016: The National Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit is the brainchild of Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY), and brings together professionals from local, state and federal agencies, business, clinicians and other leaders and advocates impacted by prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse. This week long summit is intended to help bring collaboration among participants to bring solutions to this issue that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared a public health crisis in 2012. Yesterday, President Barack Obama attended the summit and this morning I have the honor of participating in a Congressional leaders’ forum along with several of my colleagues in the House and Senate. The summit originally started as the National Prescription Drug Abuse Summit but has recently added heroin to the title to bring further attention to the heroin epidemic that has gripped our nation. The heroin epidemic can be largely traced to the rise in opioid and prescription drug abuse and it is appropriate and necessary to be added to this summit. As the only pharmacist currently serving in Congress, I am honored to bring my unique perspective to the conversation. In my professional career, I have witnessed prescription drug abuse ruin careers, families and lives and I applaud Congressman Rogers for his leadership in this most important area. After speaking at the summit, I stay in Atlanta and meet with Jim Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of Yancey Brothers, a construction equipment dealer representing Caterpillar in Georgia. Yancey Brothers has 23 locations in Georgia, including a number in the First Congressional District. Afterwards, we head back to Pooler but on our way home we stop in Perry to speak to the Pecan Growers Conference who are holding their annual meeting at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Agriculture remains the number one industry in our state and we have a strong agriculture presence in the First Congressional District, particularly in the western portion of our district. Many of the pecan growers utilize the Savannah Port to ship their products and I bring them up to date on the deepening of the Port.

Thursday, March 31, 2016: I begin a very busy day by attending the Liberty County MidCoast Airport Partnership Runway Extension Groundbreaking at Fort Stewart. During my remarks to the attendees, I take the opportunity to compliment everyone for what I believe is one of the most positive and supportive relationships between a community and the military anywhere in the nation. This runway extension project is another example of the results of this great relationship and will help further the airport’s importance to the people of the community, the Army and the region. Afterwards, I stay in the Hinesville area and meet with local businessman Clay Sikes to learn more about his latest business venture, Coastal Solar. I am a big fan of all power sources, particularly renewable sources, and have advocated and fought for solar power for many years dating back to my service in the State Legislature. Next, I head to McIntosh County for a tour of the Townsend Bombing Range which currently occupies roughly 5000 acres but is being expanded to 30,000+ acres to accommodate the 4^th generation fighters and the F-35s. The range is currently operated by the Georgia National Guard, but is technically owned by Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and is utilized by most of the military installations in the southeastern United States.

Congressman Carter at Townsend Bombing Range

I was able to witness an F-16 practicing maneuvers at the range and the power of these aircrafts were simply amazing. The precision and command that our military have in these aircrafts reminds me of why we have the greatest military in the world. We are blessed to have Townsend Bombing Range in the First District as it is a gem in our military arsenal. My day continues as I head to Blackshear for the 61^st Annual Pierce County Chamber of Commerce Gala where we honor this year’s award winners and recognize the new officers for the upcoming year. Pierce County is a growing area with a strong business community, great public schools and outstanding community support. My final stop of the day is in Jesup for the annual Taste of Wayne celebration and boy what a celebration it is. Like Pierce County, Wayne County has a strong business community, great public schools and outstanding community support and it is evident tonight during this event that attracts an overflow crowd.

Friday, April 1, 2016: As is the case with most any Friday morning when I am at home, I am at the Band of Brothers bible study bright and early at 6:30 a.m. to hear our leader Rev. Kenny Grant as he puts it, “talk to myself and let y’all listen.” This group of men continues to amaze me as they are now regularly surpassing 200 in attendance. Afterwards, I have the honor of delivering welcoming remarks for the National Health Policy and Clinical Practice Conference in Savannah.

Congressman Carter at the National Health Policy and Clinical Practice Conference

Dr. Kim Kuebler has done a great job organizing this event that brings together health care professionals from across the region. Later in the day, I am honored to participate in the retirement ceremony of my longtime friend and fellow West Chatham County native Bucky Burnsed from the Joint Air Dominance Center in Savannah. One of the many reasons we live in the greatest country in the world is that we have the greatest military in the world made up of people like Bucky Burnsed. Happy retirement, my friend.