Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) (CSPAN)

(CNSNews.com) – Commenting on the number of drug-overdose deaths in the United States, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) said more Americans died from overdose in 2016 than died in the entire Vietnam war.

At a press conference on opioid addiction on Wednesday, Rep. Hartzler said, “It’s a tragedy in 2016 when we lose more Americans to addiction overdose than died during the entire Vietnam war.”

According to the National Archives, 58,200 U.S. soldiers died in the Vietnam war, which lasted from 1955 to 1975. A heavy U.S. troop presence did not start until John F. Kennedy became president in January 1961.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 63,632 drug-overdose deaths in the United States in 2016. Among those deaths, 42,249 involved opioids.

“This is an opportunity, this a turning point in our nation where we are rallying together, we are passing over 60 bills that will address all aspects of this problem” said Rep. Hartzler at the Capitol Hill press conference.

Prescription opiates. (YouTube)

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, “As you can see by all the members and the pictures there’s not one place in America this [problem] does not touch.”

“More than 100 people will die today, tomorrow, the same,” he said. “Our friends, our family, some of the brightest stars we’ve had.”