Did you know that 1-in-2 Americans know someone who has been affected by opioid addiction? For me, combating the opioid crisis facing our country and community is personal.

When I woke up at Walter Reed after being injured in Afghanistan, I found myself on about 20 different drugs I never imagined being on before. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my toughest challenge was not the pain of my injury, but rather ending my reliance on the opioids I took to manage the pain.

Thankfully, with the support of my family and those around me, I was able to get off those prescription drugs. I know that this is not an easy thing to accomplish, which is why I’ve worked hard in Congress to help pass nearly 50 bills to combat the opioid epidemic.

But there is still more work to be done, and I won’t stop fighting until we turn the tide in our fight against opioids. Check out this new video to learn more about our efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

Visit mast.house.gov/opioids to learn more about my fight to end the opioid epidemic, and how you can get help if you’re struggling with addiction.