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Beto O'Rourke unveils plan to stem opioid abuse
Beto O'Rourke is calling for the creation of a $100 billion fund to support Americans struggling with substance abuse. It's part of a plan released Thursday aimed at ending the opioid epidemic and addressing substance abuse disorders.
His plan, according to the O'Rourke campaign, focuses on investments in raising public awareness and providing support for access to treatment leading to long-term recovery. These efforts would especially be geared to at-risk populations.
Drug overdoses cause an alarming number of deaths in America — over 70,000 deaths in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control. O'Rourke intends to highlight his plan Thursday at an event at the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"We're going to make sure that anyone with a substance use disorder gets the help that they need (and) are not treated as a problem for the criminal justice system, but an opportunity for the public health system." O'Rourke told CBS News Wednesday.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beto-orourke-unveils-plan-to-stem-opioid-abuse-2019-10-24/