In the wake of opioid addiction devastating his district and the nation, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) on Wednesday introduced legislation to establish sensible restrictions on opioid painkiller prescriptions that will deter addiction and enable appropriate treatment.
“Ohio is the number one state affected by this epidemic. In my district alone, coroners are running out of space, and now need to rent coolers to hold the overflow of bodies due to overdose,” Renacci said. “However this isn’t a local crisis, it’s a national crisis.”
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that opioid-related incidents are the cause of death for nearly 90 individuals each day.
Because reports have shown that more than 80 percent of individuals addicted to heroin started out on opioid pain relievers, Renacci wants to limit opioid prescriptions that fall under Schedule II and III drug classifications for controlled substances.
The Opioid Abuse Deterrence, Research, and Recovery Act, H.R. 4482, would establish a seven-day supply limit on an initial opioid prescription for acute pain treatment. However, the limit would not apply to care for traumatic injury, chronic conditions, cancer care, end-of-life care, palliative care, or based on a physician’s recommendation.
According to Renacci’s office, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that the risks for addiction to prescription opioids dramatically increase around seven days after they are first prescribed. Establishing a limit for initial prescriptions enables patients to get the treatment they need while mitigating addiction risk.
Renacci’s bill would also establish additional registration requirements for opioid prescribers, encourage development of abuse-deterrent drug formulations, and require a study and report on policy changes that may have contributed to the opioid epidemic.
U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) joined Renacci in introducing the bill.
“The effects of this crisis are heartbreaking, and I know for me, they’re felt right at home,” Meadows said. “My state of North Carolina has four of the top 20 cities in America suffering from opioid abuse, with over 12,000 North Carolinians dying as a result of the epidemic since 1996. This has got to end—and we believe Congress has an opportunity to lead by helping establish standards that benefit doctors, patients, and treatment centers alike.”
The bill is awaiting consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on the Judiciary.