The opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc on the lives of people in Mississippi and across the nation.  We have made significant progress to address this situation through passage of legislation which will improve treatment, recovery, and prevention.  In June, the House passed a series of bills to help achieve our objectives.  
                                           

Last week, we made additional progress to address this crisis with passage of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.  The bipartisan bill encourages the development of new, non-addictive painkillers, improves prescription drug monitoring programs, improves access to care, addresses the impact of opioids on families, and establishes comprehensive opioid recovery centers.

Treatment and Recovery:                                            

• Improve and expand access to treatment and recovery services
• Provide incentives for enhanced care, coordination, and innovation
• Establish comprehensive opioid recovery centers

Prevention:

• Encourage non-addictive opioid alternatives to treat pain
• Improve data to identify and help at-risk patients and families
• Address high prescribing rates while enhancing prescription drug monitoring program

Protecting Communities:

• Give law enforcement tools to get dangerous drugs out of communities
• Better intercept illicit opioids at international mail facilities
• Improve access to federal resources for local communities

Fighting Fentanyl:

• Better tackle ever-changing drugs
• Crack down on foreign shipments of illicit drugs
• Provide grants for local communities to combat Fentanyl