Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Tackling the opioid crisis is a national and local challenge. Addiction plagues people of all ages, races, and economic classes. Addicts can be our family members, neighbors and co-workers. Currently, in Virginia, resources to treat addicts are expensive and limited.

Addiction isn’t an outcome of weak faith, it’s physiological. Supports offered by faith communities are vital but insufficient. By expanding medical coverage in Virginia, addicts can receive medical treatment currently beyond their reach due to cost. By avoiding responsibility for this crisis, Virginians will incur greater costs in the form of ER expenses, court costs, incarceration, foster care, etc. The financial resources are there for Virginians.

We must elect leaders like Sheila Crowley, candidate for the House of Delegates for the 98th district, who will fight for those resources. 

L. Arsenovic

Gloucester, Va. ...