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Opioid Legislation Passed By Senate Includes Parts Of Esty’s Addiction Bill

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- The U.S. Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act on Thursday, March 10 to provide resources for heroin and opioid addiction treatment and addiction programs. 

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Danbury) introduced the Prevent Drug Addiction Act of 2016. A portion of the act was passed along with the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Danbury) introduced the Prevent Drug Addiction Act of 2016. A portion of the act was passed along with the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in the U.S. Senate.

Photo Credit: House Democrats

The act contains a portion of a House of Representatives bill cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5th District).

“Today the Senate took a desperately needed step forward to help families who have been impacted by the opioid crisis get the help they need to recover, move forward, and try to put their lives back together,” said Esty, who represents Danbury, Bethel, Newtown, Sherman, Brookfield and New Fairfield along with much of northwestern Connecticut.

The bipartisan bill passed in the Senate by a 94-1 vote. A portion of Esty's House bill, the Prevent Drug Addiction Act of 2016, was also passed as part of the Senate bill. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) added the provision as an amendment. 

The Prevent Act provisions included will assist states and nonprofits in conducting culturally sensitive community education programs, prioritizing areas with high rates of addiction and related deaths. 

“The House should follow the Senate’s lead and immediately take up the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act so that it can be signed into law," said Esty. “But even then, our work will be far from finished. Just last week, I attended a community forum in New Britain, where speakers painfully recounted their and their loved ones’ desperate struggles with drug addiction. We must do everything within our power to prevent this terrible epidemic from destroying more lives.”

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