Solving the opioid crisis? Congress passes legislation to help suffering families and communities

Oct. 01--BLUEFIELD -- A piece of legislation to aid families and communities suffering from the opioid epidemic on Sept. 28 passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to a press release from Va. 9th District Congressman Morgan Griffith, he voted in support of an amended version of the H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act will soon go to President Trump's desk for a signature.

"I want to commend Congress for its leadership and the bipartisan effort it has undertaken to address the ever worsening opioid crisis," Mercer County Comissioner, Greg Puckett said. "This authorization is truly a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue across the entire continuum of care, prevention, treatment and recovery support."

The legislation will be voted on by the U.S. Senate soon, according to Griffith's Communication Director, Kevin Baird.

"Today, the House voted to advance a major legislative package addressing the opioid epidemic," Griffith said in a press release. "It is a bipartisan bill that takes a comprehensive approach to the crisis. It will help treat addiction, gather data, battle illegal substances, develop non-addictive painkillers, and in numerous other facets."

Griffith said in a press release that the opioid crisis is the most urgent health crisis of our time and said acting to alleviate it is a priority of his and the House of Representatives.

"As a consummate advocate for the betterment of all unhealthy conditions, I am encouraged by the fact that this fully recognizes addiction as the medical condition, and that it is and contains meaningful programs aimed at helping patients and families struggling with this disease," Puckett said.

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act is the result of a bipartisan agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate, according to the news release.

The legislation passed the House of Representatives by a 393 to eight vote with 27 representatives not voting. All W.Va. and Va. Congresspersons voted yes to the bill except Va. 5th District representative Thomas Garrett Jr.

According to a press release, the act includes two bills introduced by Congressman Griffith and previously passed by the house. Those are: H.R. 5812, the Creating Opportunities that Necessitate New and Enhanced Connections That Improve Opioid Navigation Strategies (CONNECTIONS) Act and H.R. 5801, the Medicaid Providers Are Required To Note Experiences in Record Systems to Help In-need Patients (PARTNERSHIP) Act.

"This bill will be helpful for medical professionals, public health officials, counselors, law enforcement officers, and all who are working in our communities to solve this grave problem," Congressman Griffith said in a press release. "I support the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act and look forward to its enactment very soon."

Puckett said he was encouraged by the help this legislation could bring to Mercer County.

"As a board of directors member of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and having served on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Opioid Taskforce, I have been able to share stories of our local environmental conditions and connect with national leaders that are working to solve this problem," Puckett said. "Any efforts that link substance use disorders and It's impact on public health, should be of crucial importance to Mercer county and beyond."

-- Contact Emily Rice at erice@bdtonline.com and follow her on twitter @BDTrice

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