Rep. Angie Craig, Gov. Walz Convene Opioid Crisis Roundtable

ST. PAUL, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and Governor Tim Walz convened a roundtable discussion on the opioid crisis with Minnesota law enforcement, recovery experts, parents and community leaders.

Rep. Craig and Gov. Walz led the group in strategizing ways to reduce overdoses and identifying gaps in state and federal programs aimed at combating the opioid crisis.

“Tackling the opioid crisis head-on is going to take a whole-of-community approach and cooperation from every level of government,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m so grateful to Governor Walz for engaging in this conversation with us, and more determined than ever to get this crisis under control.”

“Almost all Minnesotans have a story about how the opioid crisis has impacted their lives or their loved ones. We’re investing over $200 million in a more comprehensive public health approach to substance use disorder – from prevention and harm reduction to treatment and recovery,” said Governor Walz. “And we’re working together across industries, sectors, and levels of government to curb this crisis.”

In Congress, Rep. Craig has been a leader in the fight to address the opioid crisis, expand overdose prevention tools and increase support for local law enforcement.

In December, the House passed Rep. Craig’s bipartisan RECONNECTIONS Actto address the fentanyl crisis – it earned support from both Republicans and Democrats.

Last year, Rep. Craig successfully urged the Food and Drug Administration to fully approve over-the-counter distribution of Narcan, a medicine used to reverse overdoses. Rep. Craig was trained to administer Narcan in August of last year.

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