Opioid Addiction Help for the States: Senate Passes Bill with Billion Dollar Grant to Combat Epidemic

WASHINGTON, DC– The Senate on Wednesday passed a medical research bill which will also send $1 billion to the states to fight the opioid addiction epidemic, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's office said.

“Addiction is a terrible illness that requires all the support and care we can provide," said Whitehouse, who was one of the bill's sponsors. "These funds to help prevent and treat addiction to opioid drugs will be put to good use in hard-hit states like Rhode Island,” he added.

In July, the President signed into law the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which uses law enforcement, education, medical treatment and prescription drug monitoring to combat the drug epidemic.

Other provisions of the 21 Century Cures Act deal with health information technology, his office said.

“It’s hard for health care providers to get the facts on health IT products before they buy,” said Whitehouse. “That’s why I’m glad this bill includes reforms I worked on to help providers evaluate which products deserve their business, and to prevent health IT developers from blocking the free exchange of electronic health records or important information about their health IT products.”