Government & Politics
Himes: New Federal Legislation Will Help Combat Opioid Epidemic
|
The 21st Century Cures Act, which recently passed both the U.S. Senate and House with support from both Democrats and Republicans, will help combat the crisis of opioid abuse, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes said at a recent meeting of Communities 4 Action in Stamford. ____________
— This article originally was published by Greenwich Free Press. ____________
Connecticut is toward the top of the list of states hit hardest by the burgeoning opioid crisis, along with other New England states including New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Hime said at the legislative breakfast meeting last Monday. “The incidents of opioid deaths and other pathologies that come with opioids are particularly intense in our region and our state,” he said. Himes noted that deaths associated with abuse of opioids now exceeds the 30,000 annual deaths from firearms.
“The 21st Century Cures Act was a real win in a dysfunctional Congress and dysfunctional Washington,” Himes said, adding that the bill serves to modernize and fund public health efforts that relate to mental health, addiction and opioids.
