bill schuette

In a large and diverse state like Michigan, you don’t expect to see the exact same crisis unfold in nearly every small town and big city.

But now we have a problem that doesn’t care about where you live, your race, gender, or socioeconomic status: abuse and addiction to the opioids heroin and fentanyl and the non-prescription use of prescription painkillers.

We all understand the seriousness of the opioid crisis. These drugs are killing Michigan residents, creating opioid orphans and stressing our emergency response system. Our police cars, ambulances, and even our school offices are now equipped with a drug called Narcan to counter the effects of opioids, hoping to stop a deadly overdose from claiming yet another life.

The opioid crisis is the worst drug crisis in American history and President Trump has taken an important step in the fight to combat the advance of opioids by declaring a national health emergency.

The passion of the First Lady and focus of the president was clear as they spoke about how each of them has observed addiction in their own lives.

As an invited guest of the president, I watched in the East Room from my seat, it was easy to see the toll losing his brother to alcoholism has had on the president, his focus on the devastation and the ruination it causes to people and people’s lives was clear to all.

By activating the entire federal government in response to the opioid crisis, new resources will be made available to fight this very real problem we face in every corner of our nation as well as right here in Michigan.

Another important part of the declaration gives us faster access to tools and talent needed to respond effectively to our ongoing public health emergency by cutting the bureaucratic red tape that slows the hiring of medical professionals.

I’ve said this countless times, and it deserves repeating: we can’t arrest our way out of this problem.

I’ve talked with those coping with addiction in recovery centers, those on the road to recovery and those who have celebrated months or even years of sobriety.

Many have struggled with maintaining sobriety; relapsing, overdosing, destroying relationships, heading back for another round of rehab, with hope that they will recover.

One of the most important visits I’ve made in the last year was to a high-quality opioid rehabilitation facility. Talking with those in treatment, it was easy to see that they could very easily be a classmate of my children, a neighbor, a friend, someone with a career and a family that got off on the wrong track somewhere along the way.

To help with this issue, the president also lifted a regulation that prevented Medicaid from paying for residential treatment facilities, giving more people a chance at the high-quality, inpatient treatment.

High-quality, inpatient rehabilitation programs help get to the root of addiction — Providing real, high-quality rehabilitation to those who need and want help to beat their addiction.

We also need to put a stop to the flow of heroin smuggled along our highways, which is why I formed a new unit in my criminal division to work with local and state law enforcement.

The Opioid Trafficking and Interdiction Unit is tasked with taking down the dealers and the manufacturers of the drugs killing our kids.

We’re cutting off the supply to help end the problem.

With help from President Trump, local and state partnerships and the strength of those dealing with addiction and their families, there are many pieces moving into place so that we can be the generation that ends the opioid crisis.

Editor’s note: Bill Schuette is Michigan attorney general.