CEPOP 2021 Strategy Session on January 26; CARA 2.0 Presentation
To plan for the year ahead, CEPOP will host its annual Strategy Session on Tuesday, January 26th (3:30pm – 5:00pm ET). The 90-minute session will follow a similar cadence to CEPOP’s standing monthly calls beginning with a focus topic speaker presentation followed by a robust conversation around core advocacy and policy priorities that address the continued evolution of the nation’s opioid epidemic including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given recent reports by CDC and other federal agency partners, CEPOP’s work will remain critically important throughout 2021 as rates of substance misuse/abuse and overdose continue to spike.
Please let Sanjyot Sangodkar or Marcy Harrison know of any questions regarding scheduling.
CEPOP All-Participant WebEx Information
To join via WebEx, please click here.
To join via telephone, please use:
- Conference Line: (855) 244-8681
- Participant Code: 299 037 708
- Mobile Friendly: 855-244-8681,,299037708#
President Biden Announces Acting Agency Heads
The White House has named the interim agency heads who will temporarily lead federal agencies while cabinet nominees move through the confirmation process by the United States Senate. Norris Cochran, HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary of Budget, will serve as acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services until President Joe Biden‘s nominee, Xavier Becerra, is confirmed. Regina LaBelle, former chief of staff the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) during the Obama administration, will be the acting head of ONDCP. The search for a permanent ONDCP head is still ongoing. Attorney Monty Wilkinson will serve as acting Attorney General until Judge Merrick Garland is confirmed as the new head of the Department of Justice.
Articles & Resources
Bloomberg Government – Biden Announces Acting Agency Heads
Bloomberg Government – Norris Cochran Named Acting HHS Head as Becerra Awaits Hearing
Politico – Transition 2021: Biden picks Georgetown official to be acting drug czar
FDA Pilot Program to Curb Access to Illegal Opioids Online Delivers Promising Results
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and three U.S. domain name registries (Verisign, Registry Services, and Public Interest Registry) have successfully concluded a voluntary 120-day trusted notifier pilot program to curb access to illegal online opioid sales by working with domain name registries. The program led to nearly 30 domain names associated with websites that were offering misbranded and/or unapproved opioids for sale to U.S. consumers being rendered inaccessible. The FDA and the registries plan to continue this relationship going forward.
Articles & Resources
NTIA – NTIA, FDA Pilot Program to Curb Access to Illegal Opioids Online Delivers Promising Results
What We Read Last Week
Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the issue. Links to relevant articles are provided below.
Articles & Resources
Annals of Family Medicine – When Physical and Social Pain Coexist: Insights Into Opioid Therapy
Bloomberg Government – Walmart Role in Opioid Crisis Challenged in Shareholder Suit
Bloomberg Government – New Jersey to Use $5 Million From Settlement to Fight Opioids
Bloomberg Government – Indivior Loses Class Challenges in Suboxone Antitrust Suit
Employee Benefit News – Addicted: How employers are confronting the U.S. opioid crisis
Healthline – Ever Considered Narcan Training? Now Is the Time to Act
Health Affairs – Transforming Mental Health And Addiction Services
Law360 – Purdue Insurer Says Committees Can’t Bring Coverage Suits
NAAG – Attorneys General Push FDA to Examine Progress in Opioid Fight
Neurology Advisor – Study Will Compare Postoperative Peripheral Nerve Stimulation vs Opioid Analgesia
The Hill – Biden HHS Pick Rachel Levine Would Make History as First Openly Transgender Senate-confirmed Federal Official
The Lantern – Ohio State Students Launch App to Reduce Opioid Overdoses
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut – Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts – Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts – Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Middle District of Florida – Dealer In Fentanyl And Fentanyl Analogues Sentenced To Ten Years’ Imprisonment
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Middle District of Florida – Multi-Kilo Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced To More Than 12 Years In Federal Prison
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota – St. Paul Man Charged With Possession With Intent To Distribute Fentanyl
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire – Farmington Woman Sentenced to 60 Months for Fentanyl Trafficking
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina – Rock Hill Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Involvement in Fentanyl Pill Case
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Western District of Michigan – Grand Rapids Man Guilty of Distributing Fatal Dose of Fentanyl
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia – Grant County Woman Admits to Fentanyl Charge
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia – Logan County Pharmacy to Pay Civil Monetary Penalties to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances Act
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania – Johnstown Suboxone Clinic Operator Pleads Guilty to Federal Felonies
U.S. Chamber of Commerce – U.S. Chamber Foundation, AmerisourceBergen Foundation and iHeartMedia Join Forces to Combat Opioid Crisis in Every State
This Week’s Calendar
In the week ahead, there are no relevant events or hearings noticed at this time. In the event that there are any changes to the schedule for this week, we will make additional information available.
Questions about the above content can be directed to sanjyot.sangodkar@