Larson Highlights Need to Address Substance Use and Mental Health During Committee Hearing

Washington, D.C. – During today's Ways and Means Committee hearing, "Substance Use, Suicide Risk, and the American Health System", Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) highlighted the need to address the substance abuse and mental health crisis in America.

Click here to watch Larson's remarks.

"President Biden last night underscored the need for us to come together as a country on nonpartisan issues that deserve our direct attention. Substance use, particularly the opioid epidemic, and our nation's mental health crisis are two issues that we must address together," said Larson. "In my district, the City of Hartford, a community with areas of deep poverty, accounts for over 25 percent of accidental overdoses in Hartford County. During the hearing, I heard from Regina LaBelle, J.D., the Director of the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O'Neill Institute, who highlighted that Hartford has effective treatment and prevention programs. She encouraged us to continue investing in those programs and reinstate the expanded Child Tax Credit, which lifts children out of poverty."

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