Portman urges Senate action on heroin bill

With the heroin epidemic gripping Ohio, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is leading the effort on this high-profile issue in the U.S. Senate.

On Wednesday, he will testify on his bill, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, and urge the Senate to act on his legislation expeditiously.
 
“I believe the heroin epidemic in Ohio has reached crisis levels,” Portman said. “I am looking forward to discussing positive solutions designed to help us combat drug abuse that is plaguing too many Ohio communities.”
 
Below is a rundown of what Portman’s heroin bill will do.

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S.524/H.R.953) will:

• Expand prevention and educational efforts—particularly aimed at teens, parents and other caretakers, and aging populations—to prevent the abuse of opioids and heroin and to promote treatment and recovery.  

• Expand the availability of naloxone to law enforcement agencies and other first responders to help in the reversal of overdoses to save lives.  

• Expand resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering from addiction disorders promptly by collaborating with criminal justice stakeholders and by providing evidence-based treatment.

• Expand disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications to keep them out of the hands of our children and adolescents.

• Launch an evidence-based opioid and heroin treatment and intervention program to expand best practices throughout the country.

• Launch a medication assisted treatment and intervention demonstration program.

• Strengthen prescription drug monitoring programs to help states monitor and track prescription drug diversion and to help at-risk individuals access services.

• Only through a comprehensive approach that leverages evidence-based law enforcement and health care services, including treatment, can we stop and reverse current trends.