Tammy Baldwin is a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who is currently up for re-election in November, and now she’s talking to the public with a strong personal message, openly confessing that her mother suffered from prescription drugs.
As the Fix reports, Baldwin says in her new TV spot, “My mother had a drug abuse problem. She struggled with addiction to prescription drugs her whole life. I had to grow up fast, very fast.” Baldwin has also been seeing the specter of opioids hitting her native state of Wisconsin, which is why she feels compelled to speak out as well.
“When I see the opioid crisis that’s wrecking so many Wisconsin families, all I can tell you is I’ve been there. I know how hard this fight is. I know the stigma that comes with drug abuse and mental illness.”
A common saying in recovery is you’re only as sick as your secrets, and as Baldwin told the Associated Press, “What good does it do if everyone just keeps their little secrets? How are we really going to understand that this affects all of us? I’ve seen it over and over and over again, the power of telling your story.”
Many have been crying out to the government to do more to fight addiction, and last year Baldwin introduced new legislation where she wants to invest $45 billion to fight opioids.
“Washington must step up to be a stronger partner in this fight by investing in local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts,” she says. “Our legislation is a commonsense, bipartisan-based solution to address the national opioid crisis with stable, long-term support that will strengthen state and local resources.”
