Bipartisan Heroin Task Force Commits to Bipartisan Agenda
“Today, I joined together with members, on both sides of the aisle, from across the country to commit to addressing the opioid crisis together,” said Davis. “This epidemic is not limited to any one political party, socioeconomic status, or geographical area – addiction can happen to anyone. Last year, we passed the first major legislation addressing opioid addiction in more than 40 years and today we committed to building on this success. Illinois has the eighth highest drug overdose rate in the country. I continue to engage local law enforcement, first responders, and health providers on ways we can address this issue.” Click here to watch today’s announcement. The agenda announced include Jessie’s Law, the STOP OD Act, the Addiction Recovery Through Family Health Accounts Act, Road to Recovery Act, the INTERDICT Act, the Synthetic Drug Awareness Act, the CRIB Act, and the VA Prescription Data Accountability Act. Details on the agenda for the 115th Congress can be found here. Task force members who participated in today’s announcement include Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH), Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Evan Jenkins (R-WV), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Keith Rothfus (R-PA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Scott Tipton (R-CO), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and John Sarbanes (D-MD). BACKGROUND Last July, Davis helped pass the first major legislation in nearly 40 years to address the opioid epidemic. S. 524, Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 passed with bipartisan support and included 18 bills the passed by the House earlier to address this epidemic. Davis continues to ensure this legislation is implemented and helping communities in the 13th District. Davis also continues to engage with law enforcement, first responders, and health providers to help address this issue at the local level as well. Davis held roundtables and did a ride-along with the McLean County K-9 unit to see first-hand the impact of increased opioid overdose deaths. Opioid Facts • Every 12 minutes someone dies from a drug overdose in the U.S. • The number of opioids such as Vicodin, OxyContin, and codeine prescribed in the U.S. have quadrupled since 1999 and so have the number of deaths from overdoses. • In 2014, there were more than 1,700 drug overdose deaths in Illinois – the 8th highest in the nation. Central and Southwestern Illinois Impact • ‘“We were dealing with heroin and methamphetamine 10 years ago,” said DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner. “It seems like it started to subside a little bit, but now, it’s back.”’ – Herald & Review, Feb. 28, 2016 • “Madison and St. Clair County residents are buying opioid prescriptions at a rate that soars above the national average, according to new data from federal agencies.” – Belleville News-Democrat, April 26, 2016 • ‘"Forty-six percent of the patients in our medically monitored detoxification program and in our residential program are addicted to heroin," Joan Hartman, central region manager for Bloomington-based Chestnut Health Systems, said. "Five years ago, it was 18 percent."’ – Bloomington Pantagraph, Feb. 26, 2016 • “Data from Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards showed a total of 18 deaths from prescription drug overdoses in the county in 2012, 11 in 2012, 14 in 2014 and 20 in 2015.” – Springfield Journal-Register, April 26, 2016 |
