Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose Honors Pallone for work on Opioid Addiction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2016


Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), was presented an award from the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose for his “tireless work to stop the opioid misuse, addiction and overdose epidemic.” He is one of 8 members being honored for their work on opioid addiction. As the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Pallone led Democratic efforts to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) through the House of Representatives this summer.

"We want to recognize the considerable effort undertaken by Congress, and these members in particular, to address the opioid misuse and overdose epidemic," said R. Corey Waller, MD, DFASAM, Chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's Legislative Advocacy Committee. "As a Coalition, we remain committed to carrying this work forward to help communities in desperate need of a solution to this public health crisis.”

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) incorporates proven public health approaches to fight against the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis. The law improves the tools available to prescribers to prevent opioid abuse and the development of opioid use disorder. It also expands access to lifesaving naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, to respond to those in an acute opioid crisis and expands access to evidence-based treatments that help individuals with opioid use disorders enter recovery.

Congressman Pallone has also been an outspoken advocate for additional funding to combat the opioid crisis. He has introduced legislation that would commit $500 million annually to help individuals at all stages of crisis, specifically those suffering from prescription opioid and heroin dependence.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by an organization that is an important partner in our effort to address the opioid epidemic,” said Pallone. “In New Jersey, more than 184,000 individuals have been admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities for heroin or opioid abuse since 2010 and more than 5,000 have died from heroin-related deaths since 2004. We need to continue to show a sense of urgency on this issue and do everything possible to help and treat those who are suffering.”
The Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose is an organization of more than 40 local, regional and national groups that are committed to advancing meaningful legislative and regulatory policies in response to the opioid epidemic. The Coalition seeks to address the U.S. opioid epidemic by engaging policy makers, public health leaders, chronic pain and addiction specialists, individuals in and seeking recovery and family members, so that legislation and policies get the support and funding needed.

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