Donnelly Welcomes Introduction of Bipartisan House Companion Bill to Combat Heroin and Prescription Drug Epidemics

Press Release

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly welcomed the introduction of a bipartisan bill to combat heroin and prescription drug epidemics introduced today in the House by Representatives Susan Brooks (R-IN), Joe Kennedy (D-MA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Luke Messer (R-IN), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY).

Donnelly said, "Abuse of prescription drugs and heroin use remains an enormous problem in Indiana and around the country. I applaud my friend Congresswoman Susan Brooks for introducing bipartisan legislation in the House that is similar to my legislation in the Senate with Senator Kelly Ayotte. We must take action to address prescription drug abuse and heroin use, which impacts Hoosiers in communities across the state, from small, rural towns to large, urban communities. Reducing and ultimately preventing drug abuse will take all of us--at the local, state, and federal level--working together. I am hopeful that Congress will consider the House and Senate bills as part of a multi-pronged effort to address growing heroin use and prescription drug abuse."

Ayotte said, "I am pleased that Congresswoman Brooks has introduced a companion bill to the bipartisan legislation Senator Donnelly and I have introduced in the Senate, which takes a multi-pronged approach to address the prescription opioid abuse and heroin crises by calling for the development of widely-recognized best prescribing practices related to pain management. The bill will also give law enforcement greater access to important tools to fight heroin use and prescription drug diversion, and calls for a well-coordinated drug awareness campaign with a particular focus on the links between prescription opioid abuse and heroin addiction, as well as highlighting the dangerous rise of fentanyl abuse. I look forward to working with my colleagues to build additional support for this measure."

Brooks said, "We lose 45 Americans every day to prescription drug abuse while the number of heroin related deaths in the United States has continued to increase dramatically. These problems are directly linked, have no geographic or socio-economic boundaries and require our urgent attention. We must ensure prescribing physicians, pharmacists, first responders, law enforcement officials and so many others on the frontlines of this battle have the guidance and support they need. That's why I'm particularly pleased this legislation will increase the availability of Naloxone, provide critical support for prescription drug monitoring programs and establish a best practices taskforce on proper pain management prescribing practices. I am thankful to Representative Kennedy for his contributions to this effort and I look forward to working with my fellow Hoosier Senator Donnelly and Senator Ayotte as they supply critical leadership to this important cause."

The Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015 takes a multi-pronged approach to help prevent opioid abuse and heroin use. The Donnelly-Ayotte bill aims to: better enable healthcare providers and public health officials to prevent prescription drug abuse; support law enforcement efforts to get heroin off the streets; allow more first responders access to life-saving Naloxone; and raise awareness among health care providers, patients, and the public regarding prescription opioid abuse and heroin.

Donnelly announced last month that more than a half dozen Indiana organizations, including law enforcement and other group have endorsed the bill. It earned the support of: the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD); HVAF of Indiana; Drug Free Marion County; The Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY); Overdose-Lifeline, Inc.; Hope OVERcoming Heroin; the Indiana Drug Enforcement Association; and the Alcohol and Addictions Resource Center.

Most recently, Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams praised the Donnelly-Ayotte bill during a House hearing. When questioned by Congressman Gene Green of Texas about what can be done at a federal level to address the growing opioid abuse epidemic, Dr. Adams responded: "Senator Donnelly and Senator Ayotte have a bipartisan bill that they are promoting right now that has a lot of good ideas in it. I would encourage you all to look at that…The Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015. I think it's got a lot of the right ingredients in terms of task forces and highlighting the areas we need to concentrate on."

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