This is a guest opinion

Our brave military members keep our country safe, and it’s time we do the same for them. As a proud Alabamian and a grieving mom, I am calling on my members of Congress to protect service members from the harms of addiction.

Last year, I worked with lawmakers in Congress to help pass the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, which expanded access to safe, non-addictive pain management options for Medicare beneficiaries. This step doesn’t help our veterans – but it’s not too late.

Right now, federal lawmakers are drafting legislation that determines our nation’s defense budget. Alabama’s own Representative Mike Rogers is a critical player in this process as Chair of the House Armed Services Committee. I am urging him to ensure measures on non-opioid access are included.

I have felt the impact of the opioid epidemic firsthand, and it has inspired me to ensure that no other family goes through the same experience. My son, Will, passed away when he was just 25 years old from a heroin overdose. He was many things – including a good son and caring friend – but addiction took him away from us far too early. To turn pain into purpose, I created the Will Bright Foundation to support those impacted by addiction with transitional living, counseling, and job readiness training in Alabama.

Through the Will Bright Foundation’s facility, Restoration Springs, in Fayette, Alabama, we bridge the gap from recovery to independent living for those who may have no money, job, or place to live and are trying to stay sober, including many veterans. Through my work at the Foundation, I’ve found that preventing addiction before it begins is the only way we can truly prevent such tragedies as the one our family endured. That means providing those in pain with options that won’t lead them down the path of addiction.

While I am proud of my work on the NOPAIN Act, we must protect all communities vulnerable to opioid addiction, such as service members, veterans, and their families. Research found that the opioid crisis impacts service members and veterans, with nearly half of combat wounded veterans reporting misuse of prescription opioids. This is especially a challenge in Alabama, where our opioid dispensing rate is almost two times higher than the national average.

While data shows that two-thirds of veterans experience pain, non-opioids are only available if VA providers specifically request them. This is true despite the latest guidance from the CDC that states that non-opioid options are just as effective as opioids for treating acute pain.

We can’t just thank those who protect our country with words – lawmakers need to take action to keep them safe when they return home. I’m calling on Chairman Rogers to protect the nearly 360,000 veterans and over 8,700 active-duty service members that live in Alabama by working with his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee to increase access to non-opioids through the National Defense Authorization Act.

No one is immune to addiction – including our nation’s bravest. Mike Rogers, I urge you to use your platform to take action.

Lisa Bright is the CEO of the Will Bright Foundation and serves as a member of the Trussville, Alabama City Council.