Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Leahy:
The Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies (CEPOP) involves over 60 diverse organizations working toward a comprehensive and balanced policy strategy to reduce prescription opioid abuse and promote treatment options. The undersigned members of CEPOP are writing to encourage the Committee’s action on S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 (CARA).
As you know, prescription drug abuse is a growing public health crisis. Approximately 6.1 million Americans abuse or misuse prescription drugs and more than 60 Americans die every day from a prescription drug overdose. Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999 and now outnumber deaths from all illicit drugs combined.
CARA is part of an aggressive approach to respond by directing resources across the continuum of education, prevention, treatment, and recovery. As stakeholders, we see the terrible toll that opioid abuse takes on communities and families across the nation. We are encouraged that a concerted and bipartisan effort is emerging in Congress, including with the Committee’s consideration of S. 524.
CARA will help expand prevention efforts to reduce prescription drug abuse and promote access to life- saving addiction treatment services and rescue medications. We are thankful for your leadership and look forward to working with you to enact and implement this important legislation.
Sincerely,
American PublAmerican Public Health Association
AmerisourceBergen Corporation
axialHealthcare
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Community Catalyst
Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy
Legal Action Center
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
National Athletic Trainers’ Association National Council for Behavioral Health National Safety Council
PAINS Alliance
Trust for America’s Health
The Honorable Mary Bono
For a link to the letter, click here.