Legislative Response to the Opioid Epidemic on October 24,2018
The evidence provided does not contain information about a specific act signed into law on October 24,2018. However, based on the available evidence, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law in 2018, authorizing almost $8 billion to address the opioid crisis 1.
Key Federal Legislative Actions Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Major Legislative Milestones
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in July 2016 2. This legislation represented a comprehensive federal response that:
- Directed the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a task force to develop best practices on pain management 2
- Provided grants to increase the availability of life-saving opioid antagonists such as naloxone 2
- Developed treatment alternatives to incarceration programs 2
- Distributed grants to states for comprehensive opioid abuse response initiatives 2
- Expanded prescription drug take-back programs 2
- Authorized funding for family-based treatment of substance use disorder 2
- Initiated demonstration projects on evidence-based opioid and heroin treatment and interventions 2
The 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law in December 2016, including $1 billion for state efforts to fight the opioid epidemic 2.
2018 Legislative Action
The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law in 2018, authorizing almost $8 billion to address the crisis 1. This represents the most substantial federal funding commitment to combat the opioid epidemic.
Federal Strategy Components
The Department of Health and Human Services developed a five-element, data-driven, research-based strategy to reduce opioid misuse 3:
- Strengthening public health data collection and reporting 3
- Advancing the practice of pain management 3
- Improving access to addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support services 3
- Increasing availability of overdose-reversing drugs 3
- Supporting cutting-edge research in treatment of pain, opioid use disorder, and associated conditions 3
Clinical Context: The Ongoing Crisis
The opioid epidemic has resulted in dramatic increases in overdose deaths, with 67,367 people dying of drug overdoses in the United States in 2018, with 2 of every 3 deaths involving opioids 2. The crisis disproportionately affects individuals aged 25-54 years 2.
Common pitfall: While federal legislation has authorized substantial funding, implementation barriers exist, including the need for annual appropriations through the regular appropriations process and the requirement for "pay-fors" wherein new program funding must come from reductions in other current funding 2.