WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Could Congress and leaders in Washington, D.C. be doing more to combat the opioid crisis?

• Representatives from the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and other groups testified Wednesday before a panel of House lawmakers.
• In North Carolina, more than 1,900 people died as a result of an opioid-related overdose in 2017 – a spike over even just the year before - according to data from the CDC.
• North Carolina had an opioid death rate of 19.8 per 100,000 people in 2017 – greater than the national average of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

The answer from the leaders of several medical organizations: yes.

Representatives from the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and other groups testified Wednesday before a panel of House lawmakers.

“Seventy thousand Americans each year are dying from drug overdose,” said Yngvild Olsen, Vice President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. “Far more resources are necessary in the interventions shown to have the most impact to save more lives."

Olsen stressed the funding must be invested wisely, in programs that work.

In North Carolina, more than 1,900 people died as a result of an opioid-related overdose in 2017 – a spike over even just the year before - according to data from the CDC.

When it comes to those opioid-related overdoses, North Carolina had a death rate of 19.8 per 100,000 people in 2017 – greater than the national average of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

In recent years, Congress has approved billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic.

However, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., who chairs the committee, describes the overall response from the Trump administration and Congress to the crisis so far as "woefully inadequate."

This year, Cummings joined with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, another Democrat, in introducing the CARE Act, a bill that would devote $100 billion to combating the epidemic over a 10 year span.

According to numbers compiled by their offices, under the legislation, North Carolina could potentially qualify for upwards of $60 million in grants to fight substance abuse and the opioid epidemic. Local municipalities and nonprofits could also apply for grants.

The legislation is in its earliest stages on Capitol Hill, and so far does not have any Republican co-sponsors in the House.

Some Republicans argue securing the border to cut off illicit drugs should be part of any solution. They also say this is a problem that cannot be solved by just throwing lots of money at it.

“We need to thoughtfully empower communities to address their unique needs to reduce the supply of drugs, prevent drug use, and provide access to needed treatment,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the top Republican on the congressional panel.

A senior Democratic Committee aide stressed that the cost of inaction could be far higher than the bill's pricetag, noting that the president’s Council of Economic Advisers estimated that the opioid crisis cost the nation more than $500 billion in 2015.

That same aide says lawmakers have discussed different funding ideas to pay for the bill, including rolling back part of a tax break opioid manufacturers and other drug companies receive.