Thread by @buschvalentine

🧵 I’m going to say something you probably haven’t heard from many people running for office: My life has been impacted by opioid addiction.

Two years ago this month, my beloved son Matt passed away after a years-long battle with opioid addiction.
columbiatribune.com/story/opinion/…

The anniversary of Matt’s passing is a painful day for me and my children, but it is important for me to open up about this with the many families like mine who are grieving.

To meaningfully address the opioid crisis, we must start with a foundation of readily available, accessible treatment. As families struggling with addiction know, people make the choice to get help when they’re ready.

Second, we must crack down on the violent drug trafficking trade. Drug traffickers who prey on our communities and our youth must be held accountable.

Third, we end the opioid epidemic by addressing where it began. Major pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable for their part in flooding our communities with opioids. And as a nurse, I know our health care system must be better equipped to respond to opioid misuse.

Finally, we must end the stigma and shame associated with addiction. That starts with having conversations in our homes, our churches, and our schools. We need to create a culture where addiction is understood as a disease, not a character flaw.

For me, ending the silence around addiction starts with telling my story. I am a mother who has lost a child to opioids, and my five kids have lost a brother they love dearly. Our story matters and so do the stories of all Missourians living with addiction.

Together, we can end the opioid epidemic and bring hope to the many families struggling across Missouri.