2018 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Drugs


Jeff Colyer: Scourge of opioid and meth epidemics affect everyone

Many businesses say they have problems finding workers who can pass a drug test. This is a big reason why so many Kansans aren't benefitting from a growing economy. This scourge does not respect ethnicity, age, rich or poor, parent or child or county. Hundreds of our neighbors have died. Believe it or not, the average life expectancy in the US decreased the last two years, and many experts cite the opioid and meth epidemics as a primary cause. I've seen this first hand among my own patients.
Source: 2018 Kansas Inauguration/State of the State speech Feb 8, 2018

Henry McMaster: Opioids: awareness, information, treatment, & enforcement

The opioid epidemic is affecting every state in the country. 54% of the pills on the street come from your neighbor's medicine cabinet in an unused prescription of too many pills.

For the last three years, we had more opioid-related deaths in South Carolina than homicides and drunk driving deaths combined. In 2016, this "silent hurricane" killed 616 people.

And it's not just pills. Addictions intensify from one substance to another. From 2014 to 2016, heroin deaths increased 67%, plus a more than 700% increase in cases involving fentanyl.

We must take a bold new approach to this unprecedented threat. It consists of a "full court press," including awareness, information and treatment. Last month, I declared a statewide public health emergency. This allows us to bring the full power of the state's emergency management infrastructure, health care apparatus and law enforcement resources to bear--as a single team--upon the growing epidemic of opioid deaths, addiction and abuse.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to South Carolina legislature Jan 24, 2018

Charlie Baker: Reduce opioid prescribing and drive Fentanyl off our streets

We began in the midst of an opioid crisis in which deaths, overdoses and prescriptions had been growing by double digits for more than a decade. It was the worst case of negative momentum I'd ever seen. Today, with your help and support, we've reduced opioid prescribing by 29%. And overdose deaths have dropped for the first time in over a decade by 10%. In addition, we have to deal with Fentanyl. Fentanyl was present in less than 30% of overdose deaths in 2014 but was present in more than 80% of overdose deaths in 2017. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are working this issue hard. But we have more to do to drive this deadly drug off our streets.

A bipartisan fentanyl bill that makes it easier to arrest and convict dealers and traffickers is in your hands. I ask you to enact it as soon as possible.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Massachusetts legislature Jan 23, 2018

Gina Raimondo: Jobs and insurance, to combat addiction

If we're going to save lives, we have to support people's recovery. This year, we're going to create a new job training program for people in recovery. There is no silver bullet in our fight against addiction, but helping Rhode Islanders in recovery to get a good job will save lives. In the coming weeks, I'll propose legislation to make health insurance companies cover addiction and mental health treatment just like they cover diabetes or other chronic conditions.
Source: 2018 Rhode Island State of the State address Jan 16, 2018

John Hickenlooper: National model for marijuana legalization

We were the first state to legalize recreational marijuana while creating a roadmap for other states. By the way--we're not wild about Washington telling us what's best for us. We expect the federal government will respect the will of Colorado voters.
Source: 2018 State of the State address to the Colorado legislature Jan 11, 2018

Kim Reynolds: Reduce number of opioids prescribed & increase Rx monitoring

Many of you know someone who has suffered from the wave of heroin and opioid addiction that is making its way through Iowa. This issue is very personal to me. To the thousands of Iowans impacted by addiction, I've been there; I understand your struggles.

In the past decade, opioid-related deaths have more than doubled, and will continue to rise unless we take action to reverse this heart-wrenching trend. My plan to address this epidemic includes, increase use of the Prescription Monitoring Program, supporting enhanced intervention for Iowans addicted to opioids, and expanding medicated assisted treatment.

And today I am calling on the legislature to pass legislation to reduce the number of opioids prescribed in Iowa. This is a big step in the right direction. It will change lives and provide opportunities for a brighter future.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Iowa legislature Jan 9, 2018

Doug Ducey: Crack down on drunk/drugged drivers

Those reckless enough to put lives on the line by driving the wrong-way on our highways, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, should face a felony conviction and prison time. No exceptions. And if you break the law, our troopers will have their sights set on you, because we're targeting even more efforts here: An enhanced "Wrong-Way Driver Night Watch," with resources to match. We're going to zero-in on these criminals, with the goal of stopping these accidents and saving lives.
Source: 2018 Arizona State of the State address Jan 8, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Kay Ivey on Drugs.
  • Click here for more quotes by Ralph Northam on Drugs.
Candidates and political leaders on Drugs:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Apr 07, 2019