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Sen. Mitch McConnell Discusses Bill to Fight Opioid Addiction

Jan Fidler, 123rf Stock Photo

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell visited a Louisville organization Tuesday to talk about federal legislation that would help boost substance abuse treatment programs across the country.

McConnell met with officials from the Louisville chapter of Volunteers of America to discuss the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA. The measure would award grants to address the national epidemic of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use.

McConnell says Kentucky is one of the hardest hit states by the opioid epidemic. “People like myself and other members of our delegation will be backing up grant applications that will be made from organizations like this to try to help them expand and treat more people," he says.

Jennifer Hancock is the Louisville VOA president. “Sen. McConnell has committed to supporting Volunteers of America and out efforts to expand all of our programs and supporting our grant requests to federal agencies that support addiction and recovery work,” she says.

The Kentucky of Office of Drug Control Policy reports Jefferson County has the most overdose deaths of any county in the state. If approved, CARA could provide up to $80 million toward prevention, treatment and recovery support services.

Ja'Nel Johnson covers community health for WFPL News.
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