Biden Administration Presents Plan to Reduce Supply of Fentanyl-Related Substances
Last week, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Regina LaBelle sent a letter to Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) outlining a set of recommendations to Congress – developed in collaboration with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services – to mitigate the opioid epidemic. In their approach, the Biden Administration recommends Congress take actions to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, implement a process to remove FRS that do not have a high potential for abuse, allow courts to vacate or reduce sentences that involve the removed FRS, expand FRS research to inform public policy, and analyze the impacts of permanently scheduling FRS.
Articles & Resources
Bloomberg Government – Biden’s Acting Drug Czar Asks Congress for Opioid Crackdown Help
Resolutions Introduced to Recognize Overdose Awareness Day
Last week, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Joseph Manchin (D-WV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced a resolution to make August 31 Overdose Awareness Day to recognize individuals who have died of drug overdoses, acknowledge substance use disorder is a chronic disease, and acknowledge that overdose deaths can be prevented through treatment and recovery support. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced a companion resolution in the House in April. In a press release, Senator Markey said “We must ensure individuals with substance use disorders have access to the help and treatment they need, and work to end the stigma around this disease. I am proud to lead this resolution in the Senate to mark August 31 as ‘Overdose Awareness Day’ and recommit to the work we must do to end the drug overdose epidemic.” Fifteen states currently recognize Overdose Awareness Day.
Articles & Resources
Senator Ed Markey – Senator Markey Leads Senate Resolution to Recognize August 31 as “Overdose Awareness Day”
Judge Approves Purdue Pharma Settlement Plan
Last Wednesday, a federal judge approved Purdue Pharma’s $4.3 billion bankruptcy settlement plan. Under the plan, members of the Sackler family will pay the settlement over the next decade in exchange for liability release to protect the family from civil opioid lawsuits and giving up ownership of Purdue Pharma, but will not receive protections from future criminal lawsuits. External consultants who advised Purdue Pharma on opioid matters will not be covered by the liability release. The settlement funds will be distributed to local governments and tribal communities via a public trust and will fund drug treatment programs. Attorneys General for Washington, D.C. and Washington state have stated that they plan to appeal the ruling.
Articles & Resources
The Hill – Federal judge approves bankruptcy settlement for Purdue Pharma
NPR – The Sacklers, Who Made Billions From OxyContin, Win Immunity From Opioid Lawsuits
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
Bloomberg Government – Office of National Drug Control Policy and Its Role in Federal Drug Control
DEA – Southeast Missouri Health Organization Pays $1.6 Million Settlement for Invalid Prescriptions
Forbes – Overdose Awareness: Why It Matters
Representative Ann McLane Kuster – NH Delegation Announces More than $1.5 Million in Federal Funding to Support NH Firefighters
Representative Elise – Stefanik, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Program Update to Fight Poverty
Representative Paul Tonko – Tonko Cheers Key Milestone of 100+ Co-sponsors for Addiction Treatment Bill
The Hill – Access to safe, affordable medication is a casualty of the war on opioids
The Washington Post – A doctor was charged in an opioids scheme. Then he tried to hire a Hells Angel to silence a witness, feds say.
UNODC – Share Facts, Save lives on International Overdose Awareness Day
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.
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