Markey, Mass Officials Fighting Heroin Epidemic
- Markey: CDC Report on Increase in Heroin Deaths Should Spur America into Action
- Markey Convenes Heads of Federal Substance Abuse Agencies, State & Local Officials To Develop Comprehensive Strategy for Heroin and Prescription Drug Crisis
- Markey Introduces Legislation to Expand Treatment for Heroin and Prescription Drug Addiction
- Senator Markey, White House Drug Policy Director Kerlikowske, Basketball Legend Chris Herren Address Heroin, Prescription Drug Epidemic in Massachusetts
- Ayotte Backs Markey Legislation To Help Prevent Heroin Overdose Deaths
- Senator Markey, Rep. Neal Join Federal, State and Local Leaders in Call to Action on Heroin and Prescription Drug Overdose Crisis in Western Mass.
- Markey Calls for Expanding Availability of Treatment to Help First Responders Prevent Opiate Use and Abuse
- Senator Markey Commends Governor Patrick’s Efforts to Combat Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse
- Markey Introduces ‘Good Samaritan’ Legislation to Protect First Responders, Volunteers, Family Members Who Administer Opioid Overdose Prevention Drug
- Markey, Elected Officials Encourage Public to Rid Medicine Cabinets of Powerful Gateway Drugs on April 26
Senator Markey's Legislation to Address Heroin & Prescription Drug Addiction :
The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment Act (S. 2645, TREAT Act)
A copy of the legislation can be found HERE. A one-page summary can be found HERE.
What the bill does:
- would help increase the number of patients who have access to treatment by increasing the number of patients doctors can prescribe treatment for, and for the first time, allow certain nurse practitioners and physician assistants to treat addicted patients by providing access to medication assisted treatments.
- Combined with behavioral therapy, effective medication assisted treatment programs for opioid addiction can decrease overdose deaths, be cost-effective, reduce transmissions of HIV and viral hepatitis, and can reduce other social harms such as criminal activity.
- The legislation thoughtfully lifts existing federal restrictions that limit access to life saving therapies, emphasizing addiction medicine expertise and quality.
The Opioid Overdose Reduction Act
A copy of the Opioid Overdose Reduction Act can be found HERE. A one-page summary of the legislation can be found HERE.
What the bill does:
• Exempts health care professionals from civil liability from any harm caused by the emergency administration of an opioid overdose drug that they prescribe or provide to any person provided that person receives education in the proper administration of the opioid overdose drug;
• Exempts individuals who work or volunteer at an opioid overdose program from civil liability from any harm caused by the emergency administration of an opioid overdose drug that they provide as a part of an opioid overdose program;
• Exempts individuals who administer an opioid overdose drug to a person who is or reasonably appears to have suffered an overdose from civil liability provided they obtained the overdose drug from an overdose program or a health care professional and received education in the proper administration of the overdose drug.
- Markey Releases Comprehensive Plan to Address Prescription Drug and Heroin Crisis Posted on 10/14/14
- Markey: CDC Report on Increase in Heroin Deaths Should Spur America into Action Posted on 10/03/14
- Markey Applauds DEA Action to Expand Options for Prescription Drug Disposal Posted on 09/08/14
- Markey Convenes Heads of Federal Substance Abuse Agencies, State & Local Officials To Develop Comprehensive Strategy for Heroin and Prescription Drug Crisis Posted on 08/06/14
- Senator Markey to Hold Press Conference in Boston with Heads of Federal Substance Abuse Agencies, State & Local Officials on Heroin and Prescription Drug Epidemic Posted on 08/05/14
- Markey Introduces Legislation to Expand Treatment for Heroin and Prescription Drug Addiction Posted on 07/23/14
