In 2017, the Federal Department of Health and Human Services declared a nationwide federal health emergency as a result of the opioid crisis. The results of which were already ravaging the state of Alabama. A report produced by the Alabama Department of Public Health highlighted the threat posed by the drug crisis, saying, “In 2017, 836 drug overdose-related deaths were reported; 419 (50%) of those involved opioids.”
With the Alabama Department of Public Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and lawmakers raising alarm bells about the devastating impact on families across the state, everyone was taking note, well, almost everyone. State Senator Dick Brewbaker, a current candidate for U.S. House district two, went on record opposing the attention the issue was getting.
A story run by WSFA Channel 12 with the headline “Montgomery lawmaker says not to be ‘fooled’ by opioid crisis.” WSFA quotes Brewbaker as saying, “Because most people just nod and go yeah people are getting addicted to drugs and that’s bad you need to go fix that.”
The story noted that Brewbaker’s concern “centers around other issues in the state which may go unaddressed. The Montgomery senator said prisons and the education system are both more immediate crises than opioids. Brewbaker said they could go unaddressed because they are harder to solve.”
“In Alabama, we have a lot of real crisis that we ought to be paying attention to,” Brewbaker said.
In a statement released by the Caroleene Dobson campaign, Dobson spokesman Drew Dixon said, Brewbaker demonstrated “bad judgment, misplaced priorities, and a complete lack of understanding” as a state senator when he downplayed the threat of fentanyl and the opioid crisis and said improving living conditions for convicted felons was a more urgent priority.
“Like so many career politicians, 20-year office holder Dick Brewbaker was guilty of the triple threat of bad judgment, misplaced priorities, and a complete lack of understanding when he flippantly said that the comfort of incarcerated felons was more important than protecting families and communities from the threat of fentanyl and the opioid crisis.”
Dixon said, “I am certain that the parents, families, and friends who lost loved ones to opioid addiction do not agree that ensuring prisoners have cable television is more important than removing dangerous drugs from our cities, towns, and streets.”
