Washington, DC’s WAMU: Local lawmakers make plea to combat opioid abuse

By Matt Laslo

Senators from Maryland and Virginia are asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a better national strategy to combat opioid abuse.

Earlier this year, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe set up a task force on heroin and prescription drug abuse. But the problem isn’t confined to the Commonwealth.

Twenty U.S. Senators sent Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Sylvia Burwell a letter asking her to focus more attention on overdose education and provide more access to treatment on substance abuse. They are urging the secretary to expand surveillance of prescription drugs and collect more data.

They also want the secretary to make widely available a new drug that acts as an antidote for overdose victims. They write, “Given our shared concern about the growing rate of overdose deaths associated with heroin and prescription painkillers, we urge HHS to ensure that overdose prevention… figures prominently in the 2015 National Drug Control Strategy.”

The lawmakers add, “A comprehensive plan for reducing overdose deaths should include adequate financial assistance for state and local governments, as well as community organizations.”

LISTEN to entire LCB report at WAMU 88.5 News.