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U.S. AG Jeff Sessions Discusses Opioid Crisis During Stop in Lexington

Stu Johnson, WEKU News

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke about efforts to reduce production of opioids Thursday during a stop in Lexington.  The Trump administration AG also met with a group of central Kentuckians who lost loved ones to opioid overdoses.

In speaking to federal and state prosecutors plus many from the law enforcement community, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions noted 64,000 Americans lost their lives to an overdose in 2016, roughly the same number as the population of Bowling Green.  

He says the Drug Enforcement Administration is looking into placing limits on companies producing opioid medications. “We can have the drugs we genuinely need, but not so many that would place people in danger, leave fewer drugs out on the streets, getting sold and resold,” said Sessions.

Just prior to his formal remarks, Sessions met with ten central Kentucky residents who have suffered an opioid-related loss.  Helen Ladda’s 24-year-old daughter died six months ago.  She sees a need for more affordable treatment facilities. “Melissa ended up going to work with me every day until I could get her into a program, so if there were more that were affordable, sliding scale, that type of thing.  I think it would help,” said Ladda.

During this meeting, A-G Sessions told the group that President Trump suggested a public awareness campaign using the theme ‘just don’t start’ might help to slow the rate of addiction.

© 2018 WEKU

Stu Johnson is a reporter/producer at WEKU in Lexington, Kentucky.
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