WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Frank Guinta (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02), founding members of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, convened a Congressional briefing yesterday to explore opioid prescription practices and their relation to increasing rates of addiction and overdose around the country – particularly bad in the New Hampshire representatives’ home state.
Studies show the majority of heroin users migrate to the street drug after taking prescription pain killers. Nationwide, doctor-prescribed drugs like OxyContin and Hydrocodone, flooding black markets, cause more deaths than even illegal heroin. Yesterday’s panelists included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Dr. Grant Baldwin, who demonstrated the federal agency’s new prescription guidelines. Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, spoke about structural impediments, such as insurance payment schedules and a dearth of alternative pain medications, to reforming opioid prescription practices.
However, Dr. Mehul Desai, President of the International Spine, Pain & Performance Center, emphasized the risk of denying pain medication to legitimate patients, in addition to the risks of over-prescription. “Making sure patients get the medication they need, while also making sure that they understand the risks – and that doctors are taking care to avoid over-prescription – is a careful balancing act,” said Rep. Guinta, who introduced the STOP ABUSE Act with Rep. Kuster.
The legislation would strengthen cooperation among federal, state and local governments, responding to the public health crisis. Experts at yesterday’s hearing agreed that both doctors and patients need more thorough, timely information. Various states’ prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP’s) differ, and their privacy laws also differ, preventing quick sharing of patient information that could prevent “doctor-shopping.”
“Our Task Force invited today’s experts to brief us on the best solutions for patients themselves. Most of all, they need more complete information, and so do doctors, especially at the Veterans Administration,” said Rep. Guinta. “There, the federal government can be especially helpful in spreading alternative pain management practices, which can be effective. I’m glad my House colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, were able to join us in our effort to raise public and professional awareness.”
Rep. Kuster added, “Four out of five heroin users start on the path to addiction after misusing prescription drugs. We need to get upstream of the problem to prevent our citizens from getting hooked in the first place. I was proud to host today’s hearing, where we heard from a number of experts about what it will take to implement new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rules.”
Representatives Keith Rothfus (PA-12), Evan Jenkins (WV-03) and John Sarbanes (MD-03), all members of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, attended yesterday’s briefing as well.
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All official press releases from Former Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH)
