WASHINGTON – Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) has joined the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids/the Center on Addiction and Facebook in a new public awareness campaign called Stop Opioid Silence, which is aimed at reducing the stigma that surrounds opioid addiction.

“More than half of all Americans know someone affected by the opioid crisis, but only about a fourth of those battling opioid addiction get the treatment they need,” said Dave. “As the former Geauga County Prosecutor, I saw firsthand the devastating impact addiction has on our communities in Northeast Ohio. That’s why, as the Vice Chair of the House Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus, I was proud to join this effort to help combat the stigma surrounding addiction and increase the number of people willing to reach out for help.”

To watch the PSA Dave recorded for the Stop Opioid Silence public awareness campaign, click here.

Addiction has been breaking apart families, threatening the safety of American communities and hurting the U.S. economy for decades. The opioid crisis has only heightened that impact with opioid-related overdose deaths more than quadrupling since 1999. In 2017, more than 70,200 Americans died of a drug overdose, including 5,111 Ohioans, of which more than 68 percent involved an opioid. These deaths made the Buckeye State one of the top five states with the highest rates of fatal opioid-related overdoses.

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