Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Testifies Before Congress On Impact Of Opioid Crisis

The Chief of the Cherokee Nation testified before Congress about the opioid crisis on Tuesday.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. says drug makers flooded Cherokee lands with addictive pills, causing hundreds of overdose deaths and harming the Tribe's economy, health system and schools.

"In one year, approximately 184 million opioid pills were distributed within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. This is enough to supply every person living in our reservation with 153 pills each," said Hoskin.

Hoskin says the tribe is investing millions from its settlement with drugmakers into addiction treatments.

Haskin is asking congress to contribute more funds to those programs.