Fischer Praises Final Passage of Opioids Bill

Press Release

Today, the U.S. Senate passed final legislation to address the country's opioid and heroin abuse epidemic. The bill, known as S. 524, The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), would expand drug abuse education and prevention. It would also provide states and local communities with resources to help first responders fight this crisis and save lives. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) voted in favor of the bipartisan legislation, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 92 to 2. The legislation now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law.

Senator Fischer released the following statement:

"Too many families across this country have been torn apart by heroin and prescription opioid abuse. In Nebraska, arrests and overdoses associated with these drugs have become a serious problem. Today, Congress has come together and passed significant, bipartisan legislation to empower states and local communities to fight this crisis. I hope the president will quickly sign this bill so we can start saving lives and help heal our nation."

Among other provisions, the CARA conference report:

Develops an inter-agency task force of government and non-governmental stakeholders to establish best practices for prescribing opioids and treating addiction.
Provides grants to states and localities for education and prevention strategies that target areas experiencing drug crises.
Establishes incarceration programs to treat addiction in prisons and develop treatment alternatives to incarceration.
Provides funding for training and implementation of overdose drugs like naloxone (also known as Narcan) for first responders.
Provides medication-assisted treatment programs in state and local governments with additional grant funding.
Provides grants to help target groups affected by addiction, including women, veterans, and families.
Reauthorizes a program to provide grants for state-administered, electronic prescription monitoring systems to allow health care providers to identify patients at risk for addiction.

CARA is supported by medical professionals across Nebraska and backed by Nebraska's law enforcement community. Below are quotes in praise of the bill by several of these organizations:

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson released the following statement:

"I applaud the passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and thank Senator Fischer for supporting this legislation. Heroin and prescription drug abuse have devastating effects on the public health and safety of communities across America. Research shows the best way to address this challenge is through a strategy that includes prevention, law enforcement, reduction of overdose deaths, evidence-based treatment, and support for recovery. This bill marks a meaningful, bipartisan step toward achieving those goals."

Harris Frankel, MD, President of the Nebraska Medical Association, released the following statement:

"As advocates for physicians and the health of all Nebraskans, we applaud efforts at a comprehensive solution to the opioid crisis affecting our nation."

Laura J. Redoutey, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association, released the following statement:

"The Nebraska Hospital Association embraces the bill set to fight opioid abuse in our state. Our hospitals often see the effects of opioid abuse, addictions, and overdoses firsthand and we understand the importance of expanding drug abuse education and prevention with supporting S. 524. Hospitals and health systems play an important role in helping to end the opioid epidemic. We believe a multifaceted approach that includes education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation can end the public health crisis that threatens the health and lives of millions of Americans."

Michael Hansen, President and CEO of Columbus Community Hospital, released the following statement:

"Columbus Community Hospital supports S. 524 as an important step towards addressing the effects of opioid abuse, addiction, and the overdose epidemic across our nation. We believe that a coordinated nationwide strategy, including grant programs to support state and local governments, is required to address this problem."

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