The Manatee County (Fla.) Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has endorsed a seven-point plan championed in a federal proposal by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) aimed at ending the nation’s prescription drug crisis.
“Drugs are destroying lives and families not only in our backyard here in southwest Florida but everywhere throughout the country,” Rep. Buchanan said. “We need to work together at the federal, state and local level to address the epidemic.”
The BCC this month voted unanimously to adopt a resolution in support of the bipartisan Opioid Emergency Response Act, H.R. 5531, which Rep. Buchanan introduced on April 17 “to provide for a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to preventing and treating opioid addiction,” according to a draft of the bill in the congressional record.
“Manatee County wishes to support the continued efforts of Congressman Vern Buchanan who has been a champion of raising awareness to the opioid epidemic and has confronted it head on by sponsoring legislation that addressed child abuse and child neglect due to substance abuse and he also helped secure millions in federal dollars for anti-drug efforts in 2017,” the BCC resolution states.
The BCC’s resolution pointed out that Manatee County has suffered the greatest impact in the region and has reported the majority of deaths from overdoses.
H.R. 5531, which includes cosponsor U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), would create a program to incentivize the use of alternatives to addictive prescription opioids, according to a summary provided by Rep. Buchanan’s office.
H.R. 5531 also would include suggestions already introduced in Congress, such as increased research and prevention efforts, expanded access to treatment for those in recovery, and improved drug screenings at American borders, according to the summary.
Endorsements for H.R. 5531 also have been made by Drug Free Manatee, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the National Board for Certified Counselors, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, several county sheriffs’ organizations, Manatee Memorial Hospital, and the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, among others.
The measure has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee; the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee; the U.S. House Budget Committee; the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee; the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; and the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
On May 11, Rep. Buchanan also introduced the bipartisan Centralized Opioid Guidance Act of 2018, H.R. 5777, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA). H.R. 5777 would create a centralized opioid database for patients searching for alternatives to addictive painkillers.
H.R. 5777 is under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House this month, according to Rep. Buchanan’s office.