Bipartisan legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) would ensure that access to new opioid overdose reversal agents is expanded beyond Naloxone.
“The widespread availability of synthetic opioids poses a significant public health risk, not only to civilians, but also to law enforcement, first responders, and our military communities,” Rep. Armstrong said on Tuesday. “This bipartisan legislation will help save lives and help us fight the opioid crisis.”
The congressman on June 12 sponsored the Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss (HEAL) Act of 2023, H.R. 4007, alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) to specifically ensure that references to opioid overdose reversal agents in grant programs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are not limited to naloxone, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Naloxone, which is currently the only medication available to reverse the effects of an overdose, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more than 50 years ago, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Armstrong’s staff. The summary notes that the product’s properties “are not at an equivalent strength to fully combat modern synthetic opioids.”
If enacted, H.R. 4007 would ensure that whenever HHS issues a regulation, guidance, or another document for any grant program addressing opioid misuse and use disorders, that any reference to an opioid overdose reversal agent (such as a reference to Naloxone) is inclusive of any opioid overdose reversal agent that has been approved or otherwise authorized for use by the FDA, the summary says.
“For more than a decade in Congress, I’ve worked to address the huge gap in access to addiction treatment and use every tool at our disposal to combat this devastating disease,” said Rep. Tonko. “An essential part of that push is ensuring that individuals struggling with addiction — as well as their loved ones, first responders, and law enforcement — are equipped with overdose reversal drugs. I’m proud to join Congressman Armstrong to introduce this life-saving legislation.”