In rare show of unity, governors vow to fight opioid crisis

In rare show of unity, governors vow to fight opioid crisis | iNFOnews.ca
In this Thursday, July 7, 2016, photo, Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., speaks during an interview in her office in Concord, N.H. In her state of the state address last February, Hassan announced an $8 million initiative to provide skills training, transportation and other services to help low-income people find better paying jobs. But repeated delays from a legislative committee that holds power of the purse means the program is still months away from getting off the ground, if it ever starts at all. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Nearly every U.S. governor has signed a pledge to combat the addiction to painkillers and heroin that is leaving a trail of overdose deaths in their states.

The National Governors Association said Wednesday that at least 45 governors signed a compact designed to co-ordinate their response to the opioid crisis.

The compact calls on governors to encourage the responsible dispensing of prescription pain medications, to raise awareness about the crisis and to encourage treatment and recovery for those already addicted.

Roughly 78 Americans die from opioid overdoses every day, a death rate that has nearly quadrupled since 1999.

The compact’s release comes ahead of the association’s summer meeting, which begins Thursday in Des Moines. Governors are expected to hear from experts about the opioid crisis during meetings Friday.

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