Naloxone Training Bill Introduced in US Senate

Earlier this month Senators Tammy Baldwin (WI), Shelly Moore Capito (WV), and Maggie Hassan (NH) introduced bipartisan legislation to support naloxone training for first responders and key community members. The bill would enable investments in grant programs for states, local governments, and tribal entities, including $57 million per year from 2024 through 2028 to support education and training on overdose reversal methods, technical assistance to protect first responders and community members from exposure to opioids like fentanyl, establish protocols for treatment referrals, and educate first responders on safety measures on exposure to dangerous drugs. Senator Tammy Baldwin commented, “When someone is experiencing a drug overdose or poisoning, every second makes a difference. I’m proud to have worked to expand access to lifesaving drugs like naloxone, but we must do more to ensure overdose reversal drugs can be effectively used in an emergency… Our firefighters, police officers, and paramedics are often the first responders to an overdose, and it’s our job to ensure they have the training they need to save lives.”

Articles & Resources

Press Release—Senators Hassan, Baldwin, Capito Lead Bill to Provide First Responder Critical Training and Resources to Prevent Overdose Deaths

Bill Text—Safe Response Act

October DEA National Rx Take Back Day Approaching

On Saturday, October 28th, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host one of its bi-annual Rx Take Back Days. DEA will set up disposal sites across the country for unneeded prescription drugs to limit diversion and misuse. In April 2023, DEA had 4,955 collection sites across the country which collected 663,725 pounds (332 tons) of returned drugs. Since its creation in 2010, the DEA has collected 17,300,454 pounds (8650 tons) of unused pills. Last spring, DEA Administrator Ann Milgram noted, “Every day, the men and women of the DEA work to protect Americans from deadly drugs and drug poisonings…National Prescription Take Back Day is one of the ways we can help prevent addiction and deaths from opioids.” To find a location near you, click here.

Articles & Resources

DEA-Take Back Day

What We Read Last Week

Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the topic. Links to relevant articles are provided below.

American Telehealth Association—ATA and ATA Action Laud DEA for Issuing a Second Extension of the Remote Prescription of Controlled Substances Through 2024

Axios—What’s going on with D.C.’s Narcan vending machines

DEA—Federal Court Orders San Antonio-Area Pharmacy and Pharmacist to Pay $275,000 Civil Penalty in Case Alleging Unlawful Opioid Distribution

The Guardian— ‘Delays are costing lives’: the struggle to allocate US opioid settlement funds

PBS—Oregon decriminalization reveals possible solutions and challenges to addressing addiction

Politico—Fentanyl’s toll has this Republican reaching out to Democrats

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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