Medical, Addiction Groups Partner to Advocate for Laws to Address Opioid Epidemic

Medical and addiction groups have formed a coalition to advocate for legislation and policies to address the nation’s opioid epidemic, MedPageToday reports.

The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose (CSOO) includes many national medical groups such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It also includes recovery groups including Facing Addiction, the Association of Recovery Schools and Young People in Recovery.

The coalition’s mission is “to address the U.S. opioid epidemic by engaging policy makers, public health leaders, chronic pain and addiction specialists, individuals in and seeking recovery and family members, so that legislation and policies get the support needed to pass Congress this year and become law.”

The group held its first meeting last week. It was attended by members of Congress, members of the Obama Administration, medical society representatives and patient advocates.

The coalition is advocating for increasing access to medication-assisted treatment; expanding access to the opioid overdose antidote naloxone; increasing opioid prescriber education; developing improved prescription drug monitoring programs; and expanding the number of eligible prescribers of medication-assisted treatment.

“There remains an urgent need for simple and achievable prevention, treatment and recovery policies that can reduce opioid overdose,” R. Corey Waller,MD, Chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Legislative Advocacy Committee said in a news release.

The U.S. House, after overwhelmingly approving 18 bills earlier this month aimed at addressing the nation’s opioid crisis, will work with the Senate to craft compromise legislation.

The House bills will need to be reconciled with the Senate’s Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which passed in March. The Senate measure authorizes funds for various drug treatment and prevention programs for a wide range of people, including those in jail.

Lawmakers hope to send President Obama a compromise bill before Congress begins its summer recess in July.