Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act of 2016

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, first, I would like to commend Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Mr. Sensenbrenner, as well as Mr. Conyers and Mr. Johnson, for their effort in bringing this important bill to the floor.

I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 5046, the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act of 2016. Mr. Chairman, my amendment, if adopted, will allow grants authorized under the underlying bill to provide for developing, implementing, or expanding programs to ensure security and custody of opioids at medical facilities.

The issue of abuse of prescription painkillers is not a new one, but the rise of this epidemic has really been fueled by the increased strength of and proliferation of these addictive drugs. It is well documented that the road to the use and abuse of an illicit opioid drug like heroin frequently begins with the legitimate use or diverted use of prescription opioid painkillers like OxyContin or Vicodin.

Through a variety of ways, these powerful drugs end up in the hands of individuals struggling with their disease. One of the most frequent ways that these drugs make it to the street is after they have been stolen from a medical facility in which they are stored for legitimate use.

In the wake of our nationwide prescription drug abuse epidemic, these drug diversion crimes have increased across the country. I will give you a few examples, but there are many.

At a Georgia hospital, according to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy consent order, a theft scheme lasted for more than 4 years and diverted more than 1 million doses of controlled drugs.

In my own district at home, two nurses at the Massachusetts General Hospital diverted nearly 16,000 pills, mostly OxyContin, resulting in the hospital paying a $2.3 million fine.

In New York, a doctor stole 200,000 pills of oxycodone with a $5.6 million street value.

In Utah, at the Utah VA, a pharmacist there stole 7,000 units of prescription drugs for sale on the street.

I am not criticizing these institutions. I am merely underscoring that the addictive nature and the power of these drugs is really driving these crimes. I am just trying to underscore that there is a need to address the drug diversion issue.

The Controlled Substances Act requires that registrants notify the Drug Enforcement Agency in writing of a theft or significant loss of any controlled substance, but we need to try to prevent the diversion of these drugs and work together to improve and strengthen the systems in place to deter the thefts that put these addicts in this position and put the addictive drugs on the street.

If adopted, my amendment will help do that. My amendment will give States and local governments the resources to work with their hospitals and community health centers, physician clinics, and treatment facilities to identify areas in which they can improve the security and custody of these prescription drugs. By regularly reviewing best practices and updating protocols and existing systems, we can keep these drugs secure and save some lives in the process.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the cities I represent and others across the country are combating this effort from all sides. My amendment is another tool in the toolbox. Quite simply, we need to do everything we can to keep these drugs off the street.

I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I have great respect for the gentleman from Virginia, and I applaud him on the great work he has done here. However, I started up an adolescent rehab center because of the huge problem I have got in my district with young people. I understand this bill is focused on veterans as well. That is another very vulnerable population, with our folks coming back after multiple tours, but I really feel strongly about the need for securing these opioids.

I have got a lot of hospitals in my district. We are having problems with the clinics and hospitals. This is really a problem that we all own and not just the DEA. So I would have to insist on my amendment and ask Members to support it.

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LYNCH.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LYNCH. In closing, Mr. Chairman, there is a gap out there in terms of the security and custody of these opioids within medical facilities. I am trying my best, just as the chairman is trying his best, to address the problem that we have in our districts. It is a real problem.

So it is a great bill. There is just this one gap, and I am trying to close that.

I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source