Addressing Substance Abuse
Indiana is one of four states where the drug overdose mortality rate has quadrupled since 1999. It is estimated that more than 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Over the past 10 years, more than 2,000 Hoosiers have died from overdoses of opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, methadone and morphine. This is a crisis for Indiana and for our nation, and addressing it is a priority for me in Congress.
The reality is that although Americans make up just five percent of the world’s population, 80 percent of the global opioid supply is consumed right here in the United States. Improper prescribing practices are one of the root causes of this national epidemic. I’ve seen the impact of overprescription of legal, prescription drugs throughout my career as a Deputy Mayor, U.S. Attorney, and member of Congress. I’ve heard from Hoosier medical schools and professionals that more training and consistent guidelines are needed when it comes to pain management and prescribing practices of these sometimes necessary and incredibly powerful prescription drugs. It’s why I introduced H.R. 4641, which established a task-force of providers, pain management specialists, patient advocates, people in recovery and the relevant federal agencies to review, modify and update best practices for pain management and guidelines for prescribers of pain medication that were released by the Centers for Disease Control in 2016.
This legislation became law in 2016 as one piece of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). CARA strives to curb prescription opioid abuse and heroin use through enhanced prevention, treatment, recovery, education and law enforcement efforts. I will continue to work in Congress to offer common sense solutions to address this crisis that has devastated so many Hoosier families and communities. In addition, I will continue to work with President Trump and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, head of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, to address heroin and opioid abuse in this country.
To read a blog post I wrote for the American Legislative Exchange Council on how government at every level is working together to address heroin and opioid abuse, click here.
To watch a statement I made about why legislation like H.R. 4641 and CARA are so important, click here.
To watch my statement in the Health Subcommittee about the heroin and opioid epidemic in Indiana and our country, click here.
To learn more about work done to combat the opioid and heroin crisis, visit Energy and Commerce's website here.
More on Addressing Substance Abuse
CARMEL, IN – Today, the President signed into law H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, a bipartisan legislative package which will provide relief to Hoosiers and Americans across the country who are suffering because of the heroin and opioid crisis. As a member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where the package originated, Congresswoman Susan W.
The Legal Services Corporation’s Opioid Task Force is coming to Indianapolis for its first field hearing, which will include an examination of Indiana’s statewide response to the opioid crisis.
Young Republicans of Indiana organized a prescription drug take-back event Oct. 3. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Zionsville Police Dept. were stationed in the parking lot at Jennings Field next to Zionsville Community High School, accepting unused pharmaceutical drugs from persons age 18 and over. The goal is to encourage members of the community to clean out their medicine cabinets and remove unused prescriptions, making the drugs less accessible to the general public. The officers properly dispose of the medication.
CARMEL, IN – The U.S. Department of Justice this week announced almost $320 million in grants to further help states and territories address the heroin and opioid abuse crisis. These grants will be administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Indiana will receive $9 million. As a Health Subcommittee member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN05) provided the following statement:
On Friday, Sept. 22nd, The Department of Health and Human Services announced that they will distribute more than $1 billion in grants to states and territories amidst the opioid and heroin crisis. Indiana will receive a grant for $27.8 million to help combat the ongoing drug epidemic.
The grants will be given through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Indiana will receive a grant for $27.8 million to help combat the ongoing drug epidemic.
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced it will distribute more than $1 billion in grants to states and territories in the battle against opioid abuse.
The grant is in addition to the initial $21 million that Indiana already received through the 21st Century Cures Act.
CARMEL, IN – The Department of Health and Human Services this week announced more than $1 billion in grants to further help states and territories address the heroin and opioid abuse crisis. These grants will be administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Indiana will receive $27.8 million.
PENDLETON — The drug and opioid addiction epidemic is impacting the nation’s labor force, Rep. Susan Brooks said during a visit to Pendleton.
Brooks, R-5th District, visited several businesses in Pendleton and was interviewed by The Herald Bulletin Thursday at The Bank.
She said dealing with the issue of drug abuse has been a priority since her election to the U.S. House in 2012 because of her past experience in the criminal justice system as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana from 2001 through 2007.
ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WPTA21) -
Experts say opioid addiction at the local, state and national level isn't slowing down, but neither are efforts to curb the epidemic and help those suffering from addiction.
Lawmakers, healthcare specialists and law enforcement officials gathered in Fort Wayne Monday morning to discuss what they call a very complex issue.
It’s all about opioids as the U.S. House of Representatives considers dozens of bills to help tackle this epidemic, which claims 116 lives each day across the country. Senate Committees are also advancing bills that likewise incorporate dozens of proposals.