End Substance Use Disorder Applauds Secretary Xavier Becerra for Calling for Expanded Access to Life-Saving Overdose Prevention Medicine
In a hearing on Capitol Hill today, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra called for Congress to expand access to buprenorphine, a life-saving overdose prevention medication. The Secretary’s comments came in response to Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) entering a letter into the Congressional record that was organized and led by End Substance Use Disorder. The letter, from 120 organizations across the country, called on Congress to pass the bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act with the urgency needed to prevent overdose deaths.
“It’s crucial that we expand access [to buprenorphine],” stated Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We will absolutely be supportive of any Congressional action to expand access…Please help us have expanded access.” The Secretary also made clear that Congress now has the sole responsibility for expanding access to this life-saving treatment. Secretary Becerra noted that HHS was constrained by federal law in its recent actions to remove some federal barriers to prescribing buprenorphine.
Secretary Xavier Becerra’s statements come amidst unprecedented support for the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act. Nearly 170 leading organizations representing healthcare and behavioral health providers, recovery and harm reduction providers, social justice advocates, public health experts, law enforcement and people and families living with substance use disorder from across the country have called for the federal government to remove barriers to prescribing buprenorphine.
Even though buprenorphine cuts the risk of overdose death in half and supports long-term recovery, fewer than 1 in 5 Americans with opioid use disorder have received this medication due in part to a stigma-driven federal law. The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act will allow healthcare providers with a standard controlled medication license to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in the course of their normal medical practice. Additionally, the bill will launch a national education campaign to connect healthcare providers to already available, free education resources on best practices for treating substance use disorder.
The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act is co-sponsored by 77 bipartisan members of Congress. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY), and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) lead the legislation.
Join the campaign to prevent overdoses and pass the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act now by clicking here.