Congress takes bipartisan action to combat the opioid epidemic

Congressman Tom MacArthur, co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, released the following statement on how the bipartisan spending bill will combat the country’s opioid epidemic.  The bipartisan legislation provided almost $4 billion, the largest amount to date, to help fight the opioid epidemic:

As co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from those who have lost loved ones to the opioid crisis and from those who are struggling with substance abuse.  I’m glad that Congress has listened to the message of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force and understood that this epidemic is bigger than politics.  It’s important that Congress worked together and took real action to fight this crisis and save our communities.  This bipartisan legislation provides nearly $4 billion—the largest investment to date—to combat this epidemic by helping improve law enforcement efforts, supporting treatment and prevention programs, and stopping the flow the of illegal drugs into our country. 

Importantly, this legislation will protect and strengthen the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and provides funding for the ONDCP’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. The Bipartisan Heroin Task Force advocated for this funding and I’m grateful to see that House Leadership listened to protect this vital office

Background information:

The omnibus includes:

$1B in new funding for the states to implement targeted responses to the opioid crisis.

Increased funding for anti-opioid and other illegal drug enforcement efforts like opioid diversion investigations and prosecutions, drug courts, overdose reversal drugs, and prescription drug monitoring.

Increased funding for opioid surveillance at the CDC.

$500M for research into opioid addiction support and alternative pain treatments at NIH.

$284M for Customs and Border Patrol with $70 for opioid detection.

$386M  to care for veterans suffering from substance abuse.

$280M for ONDCP’s HIDTA program.

Congressman Tom MacArthur successfully advocated for Ocean County to be designated a HIDTA.  Recently, the county announced the largest drug bust in history, thanks in part to Ocean County’s HIDTA designation.

$5B to fund the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.