New coalition will press for legislation to battle opioid epidemic
Includes numerous physician, healthcare groups
May 24, 2016 | By Joanne Finnegan
A new coalition made up of national physician organizations and other groups, says it will press Congress to adopt comprehensive policies to combat the country’s opioid epidemic.
The group, called the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose, brings together national and state organizations to advance legislation to help reverse the opioid crisis, according to a coalition announcement.
FDA science, politics at play in two drug decisions this week
By Brett Norman and Sarah Karlin-Smith
05/23/16
COALITION TO STOP OPIOID OVERDOSE LAUNCHES — The American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American College of Emergency Physicians and several other national organizations kicked off a campaign on Capitol Hill Thursday to press Congress to enact CARA and encourage other regulatory and legislative steps that address the opioid epidemic — especially expanding access to medication-assisted treatment. The coalition’s website is here. And 129 family members impacted by addiction visited the Hill to rally support for the bill.
Congress crafts opioid addiction legislation, but struggles with funding
May 20, 2016
Congress is advancing bipartisan legislation intended to address the nation’s opioid abuse epidemic, but lawmakers appear to be no closer to finding a way to pay for the effort — an omission that even supporters say will severely limit its impact.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-heroin-bills-congress-20160520-story.html
The Opioid Crisis Is Really a Crisis of Compassion
05/20/2016 Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Yesterday I found myself in an odd discussion – I was trying to imagine under what circumstances I would tell a patient that I simply couldn’t treat them because I had reached my quota of 100 heart surgeries and they were number patient 101. It was in discussion with a fellow physician, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who posed the hypothetical scenario as part of our town hall panel for the Coalition To Stop Opioid Overdose.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mehmet-oz/opioid-crisis-is-really-a_b_10067174.html
New coalition highlights busy day on opioid-fighting front
May 20, 2016 by Gary A. Enos, Editor
The convergence of events appeared purely coincidental, but actions announced on May 19 made the Thursday a signature day for examining strategies to combat the opioid crisis.
http://www.addictionpro.com/article/new-coalition-highlights-busy-day-opioid-fighting-front
5 Ways a New Supergroup of Advocates Hopes to Address the Nation’s Deadly Opioid Epidemic
Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose plans to push for more doc education, access to medication-assisted treatments.
May 20, 2016 Marty Stempniak
Everyone may not agree on how we’re going to quash the epidemic of heroin and prescription painkiller abuse that’s killing thousands of Americans every month. But all can concur that there’s an urgent need to collaborate to stem the tide of addiction and death currently sweeping the country.
Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose Launched
May 20, 2016 By Pharmaceutical Executive Editors
With more than 10 million Americans report misusing opioids, the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose was launched this week, with the aim of “uniting diverse stakeholders around the common goal of achieving meaningful legislative solutions to address opioid misuse and overdose”. The Coalition is composed of leading state and national groups that are committed to advancing meaningful legislative and regulatory policies.
http://www.pharmexec.com/coalition-stop-opioid-overdose-launched
Providers, pharma call on lawmakers to properly fund opioid bills
By Steven Ross Johnson | May 19, 2016
The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose, a group that includes professional medical organizations and addiction medicine and recovery stakeholders, kicked off its inaugural meeting Thursday in Washington, D.C., with a call to action.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160519/NEWS/160519881
Reliable Source
Cause Celeb: Dr. Oz and the painkiller epidemic
05/19/2016 By Helena Andrews-Dyer
Sound bite: “Opiate addiction used to be someone else’s problem. They weren’t like you. They were someone else’s kids. They were [on] the other side of tracks from you. Now it’s in upper- and middle-class neighborhoods — that’s when it began resonating.”
CARA Becoming Law Proves Our Astonishing Potential
05/18/2016 Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Like many physicians, the opioid overdose epidemic has become personal to me. As a cardiothoracic surgeon I have prescribed opioids for 25 years to help my patients manage their post surgical pain. These medications are invaluable, but they have a much darker side than I ever imagined and we are seeing it very clearly now.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mehmet-oz/cara-becoming-law-proves_b_10039004.html
Dr. Oz makes a house-call to FOX 5 Morning News
05/19/2016
WASHINGTON – Dr. Oz made a special house-call to FOX 5 Thursday while he was in town to address prescription opioid abuse. Oz, whose hit show deals with health and wellness, will lead the Coalition to Stop Opioid Abuse panel discussion at the Capitol Visitor Center.
http://www.fox5dc.com/good-day/142856513-story#http://www.fox5dc.com/good-day/142856513-story
House Tackling Opioid Crisis + Much More — May 10, 2016 http://www.speaker.gov/general/house-tackling-opioid-crisis-much-more
The Hill: House’s opioid response will not include new funding, aide says http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/277036-houses-opioid-response-will-not-include-new-funding-aide-says
Speaker Ryan: ‘We Can Win This Battle’ against Opioid Addiction http://www.speaker.gov/general/speaker-ryan-we-can-win-battle-against-opioid-addiction
WP: Some fear House playing politics with painkiller bills https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/04/13/some-fear-house-playing-politics-with-painkiller-bills/?tid=sm_tw
Leader McCarthy: This Epidemic Sent More Than 100 Of My Constituents To The E.R., But Congress Is Fighting Back http://opinion.injo.com/2016/04/254920-160-of-my-constituents-have-overdosed-on-opioids-since-2010-were-taking-action-to-stop-the-epidemic/?utm_content=bufferd9fe5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Markey Commends Obama Administration Efforts to Expand Treatment and Education for Opioid Addiction http://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-commends-obama-administration-efforts-to-expand-treatment-and-education-for-opioid-addiction
FDA Press Release: FDA announces enhanced warnings for immediate-release opioid pain medications related to risks of misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose and death http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm491739.htm
The Hill: Senate GOP blocks emergency funding for opioid epidemic http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/271533-senate-gop-blocks-emergency-funding-for-opioid-epidemic