President Barack Obama recently signed a bill into a law to help Tennessee improve its fight against the ongoing opioid epidemic, which has killed more Tennessee residents than gunshots or car accidents.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), the Senate health committee chairman, applauded the president’s decision. He is just one of the seven conferees in the Senate who collaborated with the House conferees concerning this legislation.
Alexander also stated that the Senate has increased opioid funding by 542 percent over the last three years. These funds will be useful to the health professionals and experts who are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic battle.
The new law will offer support for the prevention, education, treatment and recovery of opioid abusers. It will also help people who have an opioid use disorder receive help and maintain their health.
The law also offers grants to improve the access people have to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications, as well as support for law enforcement and veterans.
“Each year, more than 1,000 Tennesseans die from opioid abuse or overdose — this is an epidemic taking more Tennessee lives than car accidents or gunshots do,” Alexander said. “The way to fight this epidemic is not to wage a distant battle from Washington, but for Washington to support those who are fighting on the front lines. That battle is being fought state by state, county by county, doctor’s office by doctor’s office. This law will provide a substantial boost in this ongoing battle. Today is a landmark victory for those Tennesseans who are on the front lines.”
