Ellmers Sponsors Legislation to Combat Opioid Epidemic

Press Release

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) issued the below release after becoming an original sponsor of Rep. Lois Capps' legislation, the Safe Treatments and Opportunities to Prevent (STOP) Pain Act. The STOP Pain Act authorizes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to boost clinical research in order to develop alternatives to opioids and to begin developing therapies for pain management.

Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02)

"The opioid epidemic has reached new proportions across our nation and even at home -- claiming more than 1,000 lives in North Carolina each year. Just within the last month, four towns in our state were named in the top 20 nationally for opioid abuse, including Fayetteville in the Second District."

"This information warrants action and this is why I am working with my colleague Rep. Lois Capps to introduce the STOP Pain Act in the House. This legislation directs the National Institutes for Health (NIH) to develop alternatives to opioids and boost clinical research of therapies for treating chronic pain."

"This legislation allows us to discover and develop solutions to drug abuse and opioid addiction through continued research and development. I'm optimistic our efforts will help to save lives and prevent addiction before it begins."

Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA-24)

"129 people die in the United States every day from prescription drug overdose, of which many involve opioids," Capps said. "As this crisis worsens, our nation's scientific community must direct attention to better understanding the causes of pain in order to better diagnose and treat it. The STOP Pain Act would enhance the research being done at the National Institutes of Health in this area--particularly chronic pain, to improve treatments and long-term pain management so that we can stop opioid abuse before it starts."

Background:

The STOP Pain Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) on March 15, 2016. It is cosponsored by Senators Jon Tester (D-Montana), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin).

"A new report mapped out the top 25 worst cities in the US for opioid abuse and North Carolina shows up 4 times on that list. The report, from Castlight Health, analyzed up-to-date anonymous health data from nearly a million people covered by employer-based insurance."
- WNCN | April 20, 2016

"Despite these efforts, 100 people a day die from overdoses, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. In Lee County, 50 unintentional prescription opioid overdose deaths were recorded between 1999 and 2014, according to the N.C. Public Health Department."
- The Sanford Herald | May 16, 2016

"A new study shows that Fayetteville has the 15th-highest rate of prescription opioid drug abuse in the country. The study, by the for-profit company Castlight Health Inc., also shows Fayetteville's overall rate of opioid abuse, which includes heroin, as the 18th highest nationally."
- The Fayetteville Observer | April 21, 2016

"Local data show how quickly Fayetteville's opioid-abuse problem has grown. In 2009, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center recorded 288 painkiller and heroin overdoses. Last year, it saw 545, an increase of nearly 90 percent. By mid-February this year, the hospital had already see 111. The roots of the problem aren't surprising. Fayetteville has an unusually high number of military combat veterans who have lingering pain from war injuries and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Many became addicted to opioids during their treatment."
- The Fayetteville Observer | Editorial | "Fayetteville opioid problem needs intervention" | April 24, 2016

"Other North Carolina cities making the top 25 list were Hickory (ranked 5th with a 9.9 percent rate), Jacksonville (ranked 12th with an 8.2 percent rate) and Fayetteville (ranked 18th with a 7.9 percent rate). The report concludes that 22 of the 25 cities for opioid abuse are located in the South."
- Triangle Business Journal | April 25, 2016 - See more at: http://ellmers.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1424#sthash.sBSrtwOu.dpuf

Source