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Democratic congressional candidate Angie Craig aimed Friday to elevate the issue of prescription painkiller and heroin addiction in one of Minnesota's most-watched campaigns Friday, pledging to take a lead role in Washington on efforts to fight a growing problem.

Craig, a former medical device company executive, said during a roundtable of invited first responders and abuse experts that the issue is personal. She shared the story of her adopted son whose birth mother died from a prescription drug overdose.

"This is one of those issues where we better be able to find common ground in Washington because this opioid use and the epidemic we're seeing, it crosses all political boundaries," Craig said.

Her Republican opponent, Jason Lewis, has been striking a similar tone.

 he supports a bill approved this summer by Congress

 that would spend more on prevention, treatment and other efforts to combat drug addiction. Lewis said he also favors reducing punishments for low-level drug crimes.

"The bottom line is we don't have enough jail space, and we need a bit more compassion. You and I have all had family members, relatives, acquaintances who got caught in the ugly cycle of substance abuse and drug addiction," Lewis said. "We need to do something for these people. We need to help them."

Overdose deaths from painkillers and heroin are on the rise in Minnesota and nationally. At the start of the century, opioids were blamed for three deaths in the congressional district south of the Twin Cities, according to statistics cited during the Craig roundtable. Last year, overdoses caused 50 deaths _ at least half from prescription drugs or heroin.

Craig Woolery, public safety director for Cottage Grove, said overdose response calls and deaths in the city this year have already surpassed the number of last year.

Craig heard recommendations from her invited panel in Cottage Grove. Among them: Devote more federal money to painkiller and heroin treatment; work to lower the cost drugs used to counteract overdoses; and expand educational programs for doctors who prescribe painkillers to make sure they convey the risks to patients.

Capt. Chris Parsons, president of the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters association, said first responders are heavily involved in the drug battle but worried about being able to keep up, especially being equipped to administer medicine to counteract an overdose.

"Naloxone costs money. The increase in the number of responses strains an already strained system," Parsons said. "This just can't be another unfunded mandate."

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brian Bakst

Author

In Minnesota's 2nd District, the leading candidates for Congress are putting focus on the fight against opioid abuse.

2nd District candidates pledge action on opioid abuse

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