ACTION: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG DEALERS WILL NOT END OPIOD CRISIS

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Friday, March 30, 2018
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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG DEALERS WILL NOT END OPIOID CRISIS
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#OpioidCrisis
#DeathPenalty
#BigPharma

America’s in the throes of its deadliest drug overdose crisis, which began 20 years ago
•  in 2016 overdoses killed more Americans than entire Vietnam War, gun violence, HIV/AID ever did in a single year, and 2017 was worse
• 2/3 of 64,000 dying of overdoses in 2016 linked to prescribed or illegal opioids

The opioid crisis is extremely complicated. Experts caution that $100 billion over 5 years probably not sufficient. To solve it requires:
• Preventing new generations of users
• Making addiction treatment easier to access than opioids/heroin
• Addressing social/economic/environmental/psychological root causes

While Trump declared opioid epidemic a public health crisis, he’s provided no leadership, offered no funding, and expounded only simplistic solutions—like the death penalty for large scale drug dealers. He failed to mention, or seek punishment, for those who fueled this crisis—the pharmaceutical companies whose misleading marketing pushed doctors to overprescribe opiates. The almost $4 billion already appropriated is only drop in the bucket, and only piecemeal legislation pending in both houses.

Execution and incarceration won’t cure this epidemic. Instead, Congress must develop fully funded long-term strategy, focusing on prevention and treatment—not high mandatory or death sentences for drug dealers.

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**ACTION 1: CALL BOTH SENATORS and YOUR REPRESENTATIVE**
 
SAMPLE SCRIPT for all except Walden
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am very concerned that neither Congress nor Trump is seriously addressing the opioid crisis, and I’m appalled at Trump’s call for death sentences for large scale drug dealers, rather than punishment for the pharmaceutical companies that have fueled this crisis. I am calling to ask that the [Senator/Representative] work (1) to repeal the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which restricts DEA’s ability to discipline opioid distributors, and (2) to fully fund long-term solutions focusing on opioid prevention and treatment. Thank you.”
 
 
SAMPLE SCRIPT for Walden:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon, [zip code]. ]. I am very concerned that neither Congress nor Trump is seriously addressing the opioid crisis, and I’m appalled at Trump’s call for death sentences for large scale drug dealers rather than punishment for the pharmaceutical companies that have fueled this crisis. I am calling to ask that the Representative, as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, work to fully fund long-term solutions focusing on opioid prevention and treatment and to repeal the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which restricts DEA’s ability to discipline opioid distributors. Thank you.”  
 
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**ACTION 2:  SEND THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.  
 
Share this post with friends and family, especially in red states. Urge them to tell their representatives to support fully funded, long-term solutions for the opioid crisis, focusing on prevention and treatment.
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**PHONE NUMBERS**
 
SENATOR MERKLEY  
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
 
SENATOR WYDEN  
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
 
CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010
 
CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
 
CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300
 
CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,  
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609
 
CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,  
Oregon City (503) 557-1324
 
 
** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience!**ACTION: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT