French Montana took a trip to the nation’s capital on Wednesday (Dec. 8) to discuss the current opioid epidemic. According to The Hill, the rapper visited Capitol Hill, where he had more than 13 meetings with Congressmen about the epidemic, mental health and substance abuse.
“He wanted to come here to talk about the opioid epidemic sweeping through the country, especially disproportionately hitting the African American community,” French’s representative Mike Rubino told the publication.
The rapper also spoke to lawmakers about President Biden‘s Build Back Better Act as well as immigration reform. French has…”spoken to people about immigration as an issue as a naturalized citizen,” Rubino explained. “He went through the entire process and just feels that there’s an onerous burden put on people who want to do things the right way and it’s too long and lengthy of a process.”
French Montana has been open about his past battles with drug addiction. The rapper was previously hooked on Adderall, which helped him stay awake, and Percocet, a drug he initially used for back pain. In 2019, his substance use landed him in the hospital; he’s since cut out alcohol and made a commitment to being his best self.
“It was just overdoing something for too long,” he previously said of his decision to be sober. “And, to the point where now sober is becoming my new high. People seen I was out of control, not me, you know what I’m saying? ‘Cause, it’s almost like working out. You don’t see you getting big ’cause you see yourself every day. It’s the same thing with you being out of control.”
“I think that was the hardest thing I ever did in my life, to snatch myself back,” the rapper continued. “So, for me to stop everything and just step back, that was like one of my biggest accomplishments.”
According to Rubino, French’s conversation with lawmakers is one of the ways he hopes to bring awareness to the opioid epidemic. He is also launching a company titled Pure, which offers services to individuals on the road to sobriety.