U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) called on Monday for passage of bipartisan legislation to fight the opioid and heroin epidemic that has swept the nation.
Families impacted by drug abuse and advocates for drug reforms joined U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Katko in calling for support of the Preventing Overprescribing for Pain Act, S. 2567, at a press conference in Syracuse, NY.
“There is no question that the heroin and opioid epidemic has hit central New York hard,” Katko said. “Far too many lives have been lost to opioid and heroin addiction, and families throughout our community are struggling to find treatment for their loves ones.”
The increase in opioid addiction and overdose deaths has been linked to the growing number of opioid prescriptions. From 1999 to 2010, there was a 400 percent increase in prescription opioid sales in the U.S.
The Preventing Overprescribing for Pain Act would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue guidelines for safely prescribing opioid drugs.
“Part of this epidemic can be attributed to some medical providers over-prescribing opioids,” Gillibrand, the sponsor of the bill, said. “When someone gets a tooth out and only needs medication for three days, why are they sent home from the doctor’s office with 30 Percocet? I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation that will help fix this problem by requiring the CDC to issue clear guidelines to help medical providers safely prescribe opioids for these common types of acute pain. I am urging my colleagues in Congress to pass this measure to help curb the growing opioid crisis.”
Approximately two million Americans abuse or are addicted to prescription painkillers, and 500,000 more people are addicted to heroin, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Such numbers led to a 500 percent increase in overdose deaths from 1999 to 2014.
“Heroin addiction all too often begins with the misuse of prescription drugs, turning to crippling abuse and ending all too often in death,” Katko said. “That’s why I’m proud to stand with Sen. Gillibrand (on Monday) in support her bipartisan, commonsense proposal to help prevent new cases of opioid addiction, while we continue to work to expand access to treatment for individuals who are already addicted.”
Beth Hurny, the executive director of the Prevention Network, said that collaborative efforts that draw from all levels of government and community resources are required to address the epidemic.
“Policy change has been proven to be one of the most successful prevention strategies and ultimately will have the most significant impact for the individuals we serve,” Hurny said.