U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) recently led a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) calling for an expansion of access to treatment for substance abuse disorders. Read more

One of the legacies of coal mining’s exit in Appalachia, other than thousands of jobs lost, is hundreds of thousands of acres of land left with the scars of previous mining operations. Read more

CIRCLEVILLE - Representatives of Ross County and Chillicothe attended an opiate summit Wednesday to discuss what they're doing in the community and hear about what's working in others. Read more

The issues discussed at an opiate summit gave U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers his to-do list for the next year. Read more

The drug abuse epidemic is devastating communities and schools all across our country. In fact, overdoses from prescription painkillers and heroin are now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Even closer to home, the most recent data for Ohio shows that over 2,500 lives were lost to drug overdoses in 2014 alone. It is important we begin taking steps to break the cycle of drug abuse and crime in our communities – an effort that will take collaboration and a complete strategy at local, state and federal levels. Read more

A provision to allow partial filling of opioid painkiller prescriptions co-led by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) and U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was recently included in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). Read more

Washington, DC - Today, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Representatives Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) applauded the inclusion of language in the Reducing Unused Medications Act as part of the final passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). This provision, originally introduced in February of this year with bipartisan, bicameral support, will allow partial filling of Schedule II opioid prescriptions. CARA, which passed the Senate today, will now will be sent to the President's desk to be signed into law. Read more

Two Ohio congressmen are being heard on their desire to combat the opioid epidemic hitting Ohio and the nation. Both Representative Steve Stivers and Senator Rob Portman’s anti-drug bills were included in a conference report that has now passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming 407 to 5 vote. Read more

Every week, I read heartbreaking stories about how the lives of families across the country have been devastated by drug use. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that about 6.5 million Americans abuse prescription drugs – most being opioid painkillers. The opiate abuse epidemic in our country has the potential to affect anyone, regardless of race, gender, income, or where you live. Unfortunately, Ohio has not been immune to the issue; drug overdoses are now the number one cause of accidental death in our state. The drug addiction issue needs to be fought all on fronts, from our local communities up to the federal government. Read more

LOGAN — Three years ago when the Vivitrol Drug Court program was first implemented, it was uncertain how the community would react or if the program would actually be successful. Read more