State Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) was appointed to the special committee on addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery options this week by minority leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). The special committee intends to review existing state laws and funding, as well as implement and enforce recently enacted substance abuse legislation.

In addition to conducting a thorough review, the committee will aim to make recommendations to further strengthen opioid abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery options as well as access to such programs for all residents of Massachusetts.

Ross, who currently serves on the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse and previously served on two special committees pertaining to the cause, expressed the necessity of prevention and recovery:  

“With the proper addiction prevention services and recovery options, nearly 1,500 lives could have been saved from unintentional opioid overdoses in 2016. Our efforts on this committee directly affect the people of the Commonwealth, and with the right resources this issue can be remedied.”

Substance abuse, with special attention to opioids, is a topic that Senator Ross has consistently prioritized. Ross has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation including bills that would create a special commission to study heroin trafficking prevention and increase substance abuse prevention and education in public schools.