The office of U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark released the following May 11:
Washington, D.C. – Two bills introduced by U.S. Congresswoman Katherine Clark to address the nation’s opioid crisis passed the House on Wednesday, May 11. The Reducing Unused Medications Act and Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act received unanimous support.
Clark’s bills are aimed at reducing the amount of unused and unwanted pain medications fueling the opioid epidemic and ensuring safe care plans for families with infants suffering from opioid exposure.
“I’m proud to see the House put their differences aside to do the right thing,” said Clark. “But at the center of these victories are the families from home who bravely shared their stories of loss with us so that no other parent would have to lose a child to opioid abuse. Their tenacity, combined with the advocacy of doctors, researchers, and first reponders are saving lives, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Clark also successfully advocated for several amendments to the House’s proposal to coordinate best practices for pain management. Clark’s amendments include requiring studies in how pain management affects adolescentsand young adults, and research on the role electronic prescriptions can play in responsible pain management and ending the opioid crisis.
Another one of Clark’s bills, Lali’s Law, will be considered by the House this week. Lali’s Law aims to increase the availability of the overdose antidote Narcan through state grantsSummaries of Clark’s bills passed by the House today:
The Reducing Unused Medications Act: allows prescriptions for opioid medications to be partially filled by pharmacists at the request of patients or doctors, reducing the number of unused painkillers. More than 70 percent of adults who misuse prescription opioids get them from friends or relatives, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act: provides safe care plans for infants and mothers affected by substance use disorders and helps ensure they get the help they need.
This news release was published Thursday, May 12, 2016.
U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark released the following appeal to Congress regarding the opioids:
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Katherine Clark led a bipartisan special order hour Tuesday evening [May 10] as the U.S. House begins consideration of bills to address the opioid crisis. Clark urged both sides to put away partisan differences and work together to save lives.
The U.S. House will consider three of Clark’s bills aimed at preventing opioid overdoses and ensuring safe care for families with infants born suffering from opioid exposure. Clark urged the importance of learning from the stories of families who have been affected by the opioid crisis. She began the evening by highlighting the story of one of her constituents who lost her son to opioid use disorders. “At the center of this debate are the families at home who speak out and bravely share their stories so that no other parent has to endure the pain of losing their child,” said Clark.
The U.S. House will consider 3 of Clark’s bills this week: The Reducing Unused Medications Act: allows prescriptions for opioid medications to be partially filled by pharmacists at the request of patients or doctors, reducing the number of unused painkillers. More than 70 percent of adults who misuse prescription opioids get them from friends or relatives, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Lali’s Law: increases availability of life-saving Naloxone.
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: provides safe care plans for infants and mothers affected by substance use disorders and helps ensure they get the help they need.
This viewpoint was published Wednesday, May 11, 2016.
