03.10.16

Senate Passes Legislation to Combat Opioid Epidemic

WASHINGTON, DC — Today the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) – legislation co-sponsored by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) – to combat the historic epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse taking place across the United States, including Alaska.  

“In a recent meeting with constituents from across the state, I heard from them the abject devastation facing families in Alaska due to rampant heroin and opioid abuse,” Senator Sullivan said. “Their experience reinforced for me the fact that our state is grappling with this epidemic just like other parts of the country. The futures of real Alaskans are being crushed, and we can’t simply sit back and watch it happen. CARA takes a truly comprehensive approach to tackling the epidemic, including bolstering prevention efforts by educating people about the dangers of drug abuse, tools for law enforcement to stop the spread and prevent overdoses, and support for proven recovery methods and treatment to help give people their lives back.” 

Among its provisions, CARA will:

  • Make the life-saving drug naloxone more widely available to first responders so that they have a better chance of reversing an overdose.
  • Expand resources for criminal justice officials to better identify and treat inmates suffering from addiction.
  • Increase the number of disposal sites for unwanted prescription drugs.
  • Establish an evidence-based opioid and heroin treatment and intervention program, as well as a medication-assisted treatment and intervention demonstration program.
  • Reinforce prescription drug monitoring programs for states to help ensure drugs do not fall into the wrong hands.

"Addiction does not discriminate based on your gender, race, age or wealth,” Senator Sullivan added. “Each of us — our family members, friends and neighbors — are at risk. I’m grateful to see my Republican and Democratic colleagues coming together with real solutions to this scourge on our communities."

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