WASHINGTON, DC - The Health Subcommittee this morning began a hearing to discuss several bipartisan legislative proposals to address the growing drug abuse crisis - both with prescription and synthetic drugs - happening in communities across the country. Subcommittee members today heard testimony from a panel of administration witnesses and the subcommittee will reconvene later this month to hear from outside experts on these legislative proposals. Members and witnesses all agreed on the need to act to address this prevalent and growing epidemic.
Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA) said, “Prescription drug abuse does not discriminate; it is not limited by geography, income, or age. According to the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, one in five Americans has used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons."
The legislative proposals discussed today build on the work of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee over the past year. The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has held a number of hearings to hear from a variety of witnesses about how to address this complex issue. Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) added, “In addition to the O&I hearings, many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have participated in numerous discussions back home with impacted constituents and local leaders about the devastating effects this public health crisis is having on our communities."
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) said, “I have held multiple roundtables in my district with members of law enforcement, prescribers, pharmacists, and representatives from HHS and the VA; I have met with mothers and fathers of active users, recovering addicts, and overdose victims. Tragically, these families have become the real experts in this field. The consistent thread in this debate is that 80 percent of heroin use starts with a prescription for pain meds. Many of these prescribers are unaware they are a major part of the problem. We need to educate prescribers as well as patients to temper expectations on what pain management is and is not."
Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) discussed legislation he authored, H.R. 2872, and the Opioid Addition Treatment Workgroup he has formed with Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Rep. Steve Womak (R-AR), and others. Bucshon said, “Our objective is to refine this legislation to become a bill that all of the key stakeholders will support. We can only reverse the opioid epidemic by effectively treating the underlying cause - and part of that underlying cause is our Federal government’s public health response to addiction. Clearly, what we are currently doing is not working well-enough. Change is needed."
Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy in the Executive Office of the President, outlined the efforts the administration has already taken and recommitted to working with Congress in addressing this important issue. Botticelli said, “Together with all of you, we are committed partners, working to reduce the prevalence of substance use disorders through prevention, increasing access to treatment, and helping individuals recover from the disease of addiction."
Dr. Richard Frank, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services, outlined the steps HHS is currently taking and how the committee can continue to work with the department moving forward. Frank said, “Based on a review of the evidence and clinical science, our plan focuses on the actions that existing evidence suggests would produce the most impact on three specific areas: (1) improving opioid analgesic prescribing practices; (2) expanding the use of medication-assisted treatment and recovery services for individuals with an opioid-use disorder; and (3) expanding the use and distribution of naloxone. … HHS believes that addressing this problem is an area of common ground and there are a number of bills introduced in the Congress that touch on some of the same issues."
Jack Riley, Acting Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, succinctly summed up the situation stating, “We cannot arrest our way out of this."
The legislative text, complete witness testimony, and a full recording of today’s hearing are available online HERE. See Also
* #SubHealth Continues Review of Bipartisan Bills to Combat Growing Threat of Drug Abuse
