Senate Moves On Sweeping Opiate Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s opiate crisis, which some say led to the deaths of more than 24,000 people last year.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal was a cosponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Both Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy, both Connecticut Democrats, voted for the bill, along with more than 90 other senators.

According to information released Blumenthal’s office, the bill will:

Expand prevention and educational efforts — particularly aimed at teens, parents and other caretakers, and aging populations — to prevent the abuse of opioids and heroin and to promote treatment and recovery.

Expand the availability of naloxone to law enforcement agencies and other first responders to help in the reversal of overdoses to save lives.

Expand resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering from addiction disorders promptly by collaborating with criminal justice stakeholders and by providing evidence-based treatment.

Launch an evidence-based opioid and heroin treatment and interventions program to expand treatment best practices throughout the country.

Expand disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications to keep them out of the hands of our children and adolescents.

Onto the House from here. Read more at courant.com.