WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today called the White House’s efforts to address prescription drug abuse and heroin use a “welcome step." The committee has held a number of hearings in the last year on the growing opioid epidemic and steps that should be taken, several elements of which were included in the administration’s proposal. Just this week, the Subcommittee on Health also examined a number of bipartisan bills to address the growing threat of drug abuse. Opiate-related overdoses have recently become the number one cause of injury related death in Michigan and nationwide. There were 13 suspected overdoses in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the first quarter of 2013, up from 9 in the first quarter of 2012.
“Opioid abuse is on the doorstep of every single community in the country, and is worsening by the day. This epidemic requires a full court press - at the state, local, and federal level, and that includes Congress and the White House as well," said Upton. “The administration’s announcement is a welcome step, and we’re pleased that a number of the efforts mirror recommendations witnesses provided to our committee during our hearing series over the last year. But there is much more work to do. We have a number of thoughtful bipartisan bills in the works, including some discussed at a hearing just this week. We look forward to moving these proposals through the legislative process in the weeks and months ahead."
During a recent hearing, Chairman Upton highlighted two young women from Kalamazoo County, Michigan, who died from overdoses. Read his statement HERE. Related Items
* #SubOversight Continues Hearing Series to Review Prescription Drug & Opioid Abuse
* #SubHealth Continues Review of Bipartisan Bills to Combat Growing Threat of Drug Abuse
