OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

John Thomas Decker Act of 2016

Floor Speech

Date: May 11, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Drugs

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his work on this bill.

I rise today in support of H.R. 4969 because opioid addiction does not discriminate based on age.

H.R. 4969 requires the CDC to report on information regarding prescription opioid abuse after youth sports injuries. According to a study by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 12 percent of male athletes and 8 percent of female athletes have used prescription opioids in the last 12 months.

According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 80 percent of these teenagers and adolescents made the switch to heroin after abusing opioid painkillers, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This is completely unacceptable and 100 percent preventable.

Every effort should be made to ensure that our youth are protected from the trap of drug abuse. That is why I am supporting H.R. 4969. We need all the information available so we can take the right steps to ensure our youth are protected.

I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

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