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Meuser: Task force looks to end stigma surrounding addiction, mental health

Times Leader - 10/11/2021

Oct. 11—DALLAS — U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser and members of the House Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force recently unveiled their 2021 legislative agenda which prioritizes increasing access to recovery resources — ending the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health, and ending the epidemic.

During the 117th Congress, Meuser, R-Dallas, said the Task Force plan to work across the aisle to build the public health infrastructure needed to address the addiction crisis, and create safeguards against the flow of dangerous drugs such as fentanyl from flooding into our communities.

September was dedicated to celebrating Addiction and Recovery Month. Meuser, a member of the House Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, said the task force was created to promote policies that will help combat addiction and mental health crises across the country. He said the task force works closely with the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force and the Freshman Working Group on Addiction to champion legislation that combats the scourge of addiction.

Earlier this year Meuser, alongside his Democrat colleague Rep. David Trone, of Maryland, worked together to introduce and pass the Family Support Services for Addiction Act.

"The bill would create a $25 million grant program over five years to help national and local nonprofit organizations provide services for families impacted by addiction," Meuser said. "Family support services include caregiver peer support, education and training, systems navigation for families trying to access treatment and other resources, counseling services, support groups for those in crisis and for those who have lost loved ones, and skill-building."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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