Federal Government Continues to Address Opioid Crisis

(Fall 2018) Uttam Dhillon, a former lawyer for the Trump Administration, is now the new head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In 2006, the Senate approved Dhillon as the first Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He follows Robert Patterson, who filled the position after Chuck Rosenberg vacated the office. Rosenberg had been heading up the organization since 2015.

Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) appointed a new director, Dr. Robert Redfield, in March. Redfield reported this summer that his agency is formulating strategies for prescribing opioid painkillers in acute situations. Under his watch, the CDC is employing a new program that can monitor opioid overdoses in real time by utilizing information from emergency rooms.

In June both the U.S. House and Senate also worked to change the opioid epidemic’s course. Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman both endorsed legislation hurried through the chamber that will assist babies born with an addiction. This is just a portion of a larger measure that addresses the most effective use of federal funds for opioid treatment.

Additionally, Brown convinced the committee to add language mandating drug makers and medical instrument manufacturers disclose payments given to clinicians for consulting, presentations and other interactions. The intent is to further lift the veil concerning the connection between drug companies, physicians and the rate of opioid prescriptions.

Moreover, this summer the House passed legislation that would require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to consult with organizations requesting federal dollars to ensure that they have the necessary resources to provide proven treatments for opioid addiction. The House also approved a measure aimed to more fully teach older adults about opioid substitutes through the Medicare Part D program.

In late June, the SUPPORT Patients and Communities Act easily passed the House. Among other actions, this large piece of legislation outlines efforts to provide more treatment avenues, ramp up research on non-addictive alternatives to opioids and stop man-made opioids from crossing into the country via mail.

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