Information regarding drug use among Republicans includes allegations involving specific members, reports on the geographic concentration of the opioid epidemic in Republican-leaning areas, and personal stories of addiction within political families.
• Allegations and Incidents: Former Representative Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) alleged in 2022 that he witnessed cocaine use and was invited to "orgies" by GOP colleagues in Washington, which led to criticism from fellow Republicans.
• Congressional Drug Use: Former Representative Trey Radel (R-FL) pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in 2013.
• Drug Investigations: Reports indicated that former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was investigated for, among other things, the use of illegal drugs.
• Opioid Crisis Impact: Studies have shown a high correlation between the opioid epidemic and areas that voted for Republican candidates in the 2016 election.
• Personal Experiences: Some Republican candidates and politicians have spoken publicly about their personal struggles with addiction or the impact of addiction on their families. For example, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has discussed his daughter's struggle with drug addiction, using it to highlight the need for better addiction treatment and drug courts. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
While some Republicans have faced personal issues with drugs, the party's official policy stance is typically focused on law enforcement, border security, and criminalizing the drug trade, particularly in response to the fentanyl crisis. [10, 11, 12]
