Questions and Answers: Overdose Awareness Day

Q: What are you doing to prevent overdose deaths?

A: From my 99 county meetings to constituent phone calls and emails to my Senate office, I hear from Iowans from all walks of life whose families and communities have been devastated by drug overdose deaths. A recent national survey found that 1 in 3 American adults knows someone who has died from a drug overdose. In 2023, fentanyl overdose will be the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18 to 45. I work at the policy tables to stop the path of destruction that leads to substance abuse and substance use disorder, addiction, and overdose deaths. It’s an all-too-familiar story of loss that tears families apart, short-circuits people’s dreams, and diminishes productivity across society. The crisis demands a comprehensive, community-wide response that includes prevention, education, enforcement, and treatment. In 2022, I helped pass the bill into law Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act which expanded access to recovery services for first responders in rural communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis.

In this Congress, I am leading the fight to combat the illicit production and deadly flow of fentanyl into the United States. This Administration’s open border policies have enabled a dangerous pipeline of illicit drug trafficking into communities across our country. From October 2023 to June 2024, Customs and Border Protection personnel seized more than 15,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl. Imagine how much they missed, given the Administration’s lax border enforcement policies. Consider that one pound of fentanyl can kill more than a quarter of a million people. I am committed to a bipartisan, bicameral effort to DISPOSE Act that would responsibly monitor and facilitate U.S. cooperation with global partners, including Mexico, Colombia, and Peru. Our legislation would ensure that seized precursor chemicals are not diverted to the illicit production of synthetic opioids. Seized precursor chemicals must be destroyed to prevent them from feeding the toxic pipeline that is killing a generation of Americans.

As co-chair of the Senate Drug Caucus, I co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution honoring Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day that passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. In an era of division and polarization, finding common ground is increasingly difficult. And yet it is enough: too many families know the pain of losing a loved one to overdose. More Americans need to understand the dangers and risks of drug use. Earlier this year, I chaired a Drug Caucus hearing to investigate how the Federal Aviation Administration’s lax registration process allowed drug cartels to exploit federal loopholes to further their criminal profiteering at the expense of American lives. During the Federal Aviation Act reauthorization, I worked successfully to close these loopholes that cartels used to transport illegal drugs into the country. I also give my thumbs up to federal agencies for combating money laundering operations used by transnational criminal gangs to spread their poison in communities across the country.

Q: What signs should people look for to save lives in the event of an overdose?

A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises Americans to pay close attention to what an overdose looks like. The life of a child, student, neighbor, parent, or stranger could depend on it. It can be hard to know for sure, so don’t hesitate to call 911 immediately. Never leave the person alone. According to the CDC, you should look for the following signs: small, constricted “pinpoint” pupils; falling asleep or losing consciousness; slow, weak, or no breathing; choking or gurgling sounds; limp body; cold and/or clammy skin; and discolored skin, especially on the lips and nails. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose. A few years ago, I helped the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act through Congress that expanded access to naloxone for law enforcement and first responders. The legislation required that a certain portion of federal grant money be used to support rural areas where access to emergency care may be limited. Iowans at my county meetings have voiced their support for this program that has saved lives in their communities. The Drug Enforcement Administration encourages Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets to help prevent drug abuse. Return old, unnecessary, or unused medications at more than 16,500 locations in your local community. Find a daily drop-off location near you. (https://www.dea.gov/everyday-takeback-day)

August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day, honoring those who have recovered from an overdose and remembering those who have lost their lives to the overdose epidemic.