After my son Randy died of a heroin overdose, I became acquainted with many other parents whose families have suffered loss and tragedy due to the opioid crisis. We all share a special bond because we’ve had to help one another through the worst kind of grief. We know the pain of standing by helplessly while our loved one’s lives are being destroyed by drugs; we’ve visited them in prison, paid their fines, driven them to recovery meetings, taken in our grandchildren, prayed for them every day, and we have buried them.
Together we’ve worked hard, forming grassroots organizations to help alleviate the devastation in our communities, and we have a right to expect help from our elected officials. Congressman Tom Marino, who should have been working on our behalf, instead sponsored legislation that weakened the ability of the DEA to stop drug companies from flooding the market with highly addictive drugs. In exchange the drug companies gave Marino money, lots of money.
I believe Marino has betrayed every single one of us in a way that transcends politics. He didn’t do what he did because of his political party; on the contrary, he did it because he’s a cynical, greedy person who does not care about us. He ignored the rising death toll and chose instead to enrich his campaign coffers with drug money. To this day he stands by his legislation.
Those of us who have suffered and continue to suffer in this crisis must join forces, forget our political differences for a moment, remember what we all have in common, and refuse to reward Tom Marino with our votes on Nov. 6.
