Bill to fight America’s growing heroin abuse epidemic reviewed by health committee

The Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse and Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015 was one of numerous drug addiction-related bills reviewed by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health last week.

Introduced by U.S. Reps. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) and Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), the legislation would improve education, awareness and enforcement programs while addressing the growing heroin and drug abuse epidemic in the United States.

Statistics indicate that 45 American citizens die each day from prescription drug abuse, while the number of heroin-related deaths in the United States has continued to increase dramatically as well. These alarming numbers have prompted a series of legislative proposals that hope to address the increasing threat of drug abuse faced by communities all across the nation on a daily basis.

“The heroin epidemic is making headlines nationwide,” Brooks explained. “I’ve heard from countless Hoosiers about the very personal and tragic impacts that this epidemic is having on families and communities in Indiana. Prescribing physicians, pharmacists, first responders, law enforcement officials and most importantly family members of addicts are working in our communities each day to fight back against this epidemic, and we must ensure that they have the best guidance, support and resources to be successful.”

A companion bill, also a bipartisan effort, has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).

“I’m thankful to my colleagues who participated in (the) hearing, and look forward to working with them in the coming weeks to advocate for consideration and passage of these timely solutions to this growing crisis,” Brooks concluded.