{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hamilton-county-mother-travels-to-washington-dc-to-raise-awareness-of-drug", "Hamilton County mother travels to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of drug abuse crisis", "2015-10-02", "2015", "2015-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FISHERS, Ind. (Oct. 1, 2015)-- A Hamilton County mother is taking action to increase awareness of Indianas skyrocketing drug abuse problem. Shes leaving for Washington, D.C. on Friday, where she wants her voice to be heard.\nGina Bardach started a support group in October of 2014 to offer an open community to addicts and families dealing with addiction in Hamilton County. She said state and national leaders must do more now that Indianas drug problem is a crisis.\nWere in bad, bad shape. And it could take years to see any kind of resolution, she said.\nThe pain of addiction hits home for Bardach. The fishers mom startedHope and Overcomingafter seeing her son Brandon struggle with addiction to prescription pills and heroin. Hes 30 months clean now, but this mom is still fighting for her son and others.\nWhat we need is emergency funding, emergency help from state and federal government, she said.\nBardach leaves Friday morning bound for the nations capital. Sunday, she will attend a star-studded rally calledUnite to Face Addiction.\nMonday she will take her message to Capitol Hill during an advocacy day.\nIm going to represent not just district 5 but all of Indiana and meet with Congresswoman Susan Brooks, staff of Joe Donnelly, Dan Coats, she said, What I tell them is that Indianas suffering more and more every day.\nBardach said its a start that Governor Mike Pencehas a task force looking into the states drug issues, but most crucial she believes is getting more treatment options in Indiana fast.\nIm going to tell you, every intervention that Hope and Vvercomings done and put people in treatment, theyve gone out of state, she said.\nKylie Williams watched her brother Robby struggle with addiction. Its a fight the drugs won.\nEarlier this year my brother actually fatally overdosed, and I found him while I was on my way to classes at IUPUI, she said.\nNow, she talks to high schoolers in Hamilton County through Hope and Overcoming to offer a real perspective of the dangers\nWe have to get through to people, because nobody knows its actually here. Its the definition of desperate housewives, sweep it under the rug, nobodys going to know, she said.\nThursday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly sent a letter to the co-chairs of Governor Mike Pences task force with suggestions, like expanding access to drug courts. Donnelly noted that the state must make a commitment to implementing and funding any programs.\nThe next task force meeting is October 15 in Evansville.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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": ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hamilton-county-mother-travels-to-washington-dc-to-raise-awareness-of-drug"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8540800772607327, "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"}