{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-overdoses-rising-senators-king-and-capito-designate-september-as-national-recovery-month", "With Overdoses Rising, Senators King and Capito Designate September as \u201cNational Recovery Month\u201d", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), today applauded the unanimous passage of their bipartisan resolution designating September, 2022 as \u201cNational Recovery Month.\u201d The Senators\u2019 resolution comes as overdoes are rising across the nation. 2021 saw a 15 percent increase in overdose deaths nationwide, with communities across the country losing over 100,000 loved ones \u2013 including 600 in Maine, a record high for the state. The resolution specifically recognizes the many challenges contributing to growing substance use disorders and the need for more community resources and education to help address the crisis.\n\nIn addition to Senators King and Capito, the resolution was cosponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.).\n\n\u201cTo anyone suffering from substance use disorders, your communities and loved ones are here for you \u2013 we see you and we want to help,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe last few years have not been easy, there have been periods of immense stress, difficult isolation, and unexpected hardships for all Americans. These conditions have been even more challenging for those battling substance use disorders. During this year\u2019s National Recovery Month, we must recommit ourselves to supporting those struggling with this deadly public health issue, providing more resources to address our nation\u2019s opioid epidemic, and becoming more compassionate as communities. Together, recovery is possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cRaising awareness of the available treatment and recovery measures is incredibly important as addiction continues to devastate communities and families in West Virginia and across the country. I am hopeful that with this resolution, which designates the month of September as \u2018National Recovery Month,\u2019 that more people will become educated about treatment options and supports for those in recovery. This is a critical component of the spectrum of solutions needed to save lives and fight back against the scourge of addiction, and I am proud to lead my colleagues in introducing this resolution,\u201d Senator Capito said.\n\n\u201cThe drug epidemic continues to ravage our communities across West Virginia. From April 2021 to April 2022, we lost 1,420 West Virginians to drug related overdoses, and the COVID-19 pandemic made this heartbreaking issue much worse,\u201d Senator Manchin said. \u201cEvery West Virginian has been impacted by substance use disorder, and it is our responsibility to provide our family, friends and neighbors with the support and recovery services they need and deserve. I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues in designating September as National Recovery Month to help bring awareness to this crisis facing so many of our fellow West Virginians and Americans.\"\n\n\u201cEvery New Mexican deserves to live a life free from substance use disorder, and have the opportunity to access the support and medical care necessary to reach their fullest potential. As we continue to address the opioid epidemic, it is vital that we remove the stigma surrounding recovery services and support our friends and family in recovering from substance use disorder,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cI\u2019m proud the Senate passed this resolution that recommits us to the importance of better serving those experiencing substance use disorder and providing a pathway to recovery.\u201d\n\nThirteen percent of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use during 2020, largely due to increased stress and isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic. It\u2019s estimated that the total cost to the country from substance abuse disorders, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, and involvement of the criminal justice system, is $78,500,000,000 annually \u2013 a figure that continues to grow.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-overdoses-rising-senators-king-and-capito-designate-september-as-national-recovery-month"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6253108624368906, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}