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Macklemore

Obama enlists Macklemore as he calls for $1.1 billion to fight opioid abuse

Gregory Korte
USA TODAY
President Obama speaks at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta March 29.

WASHINGTON — President Obama enlisted the help of rapper Macklemore Saturday to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse and push Congress to do more about the crisis.

Making an appearance on Obama's weekly radio address, the Grammy-award winning artist described his own struggle with addiction to painkillers and urged people battling similar addictions to seek help. .

"I’m here with President Obama because I take this personally," said Macklemore. "If I hadn’t gotten the help I needed when I needed it, I might not be here today.  And I want to help others facing the same challenges I did."

Obama renewed his call for Congress to pass $1.1 billion in funding for treatment and research — on top of $500 million already in his budget for overdose prevention.

In a frenzy of lawmaking this week, the House of Representatives passed 18 opioid-related bills and sent them to the Senate to be approved or reconciled with existing Senate legislation.

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House passes package of bills to fight opioid addiction

The last and biggest of those bills, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, passed Friday by a vote of 400-5, authorizing up to $571 million over five years. But because of how Congress approves spending, it still needs to pass a separate appropriations bill.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest accused the House Thursday of "trying to take victory laps on legislation that doesn’t actually provide any money to ensure that any more people can get access to treatment."

Obama has not threatened to veto the bills. But in his Saturday address, he said they don't go far enough.

"This week, the House passed several bills about opioids – but unless they also make actual investments in more treatment, it won’t get Americans the help they need," he said. He also called for more education for doctors who prescribe painkillers, and for a national conversation about the epidemic.

Macklemore, who was spotted at the White House on Thursday, also spoke to Obama for an hour-long documentary on addiction to air on the MTV cable network this summer.

Ben Haggerty, better known by stage name Macklemore, released his second album with producer Ryan Lewis, 'This Unruly Mess I've Made.'

"Shame and the stigma associated with the disease keeps too many people from seeking the help they need," Macklemore said. "Addiction isn’t a personal choice or a personal failing. And sometimes it takes more than a strong will to get better – it takes a strong community and accessible resources."

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