WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Andy Kim's (NJ-03) Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act, a bill to help raise awareness of the dangers of synthetic opioids. In November, the CDC announced that drug overdose deaths in the United States had surpassed 100,000 per year for the first time ever. Deaths due to opioids—mostly synthetic opioids like fentanyl—accounted for more than 75 percent of these deaths.
"I've heard from so many families across New Jersey who have seen opioid addiction hit their families hard. They're stories I carry with me every day and ones that have driven me to lead this important piece of legislation," said Congressman Kim. "I'm proud to see my bill pass the House and I will continue working to pass it into law. Even more urgently, Congress must pass the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act so Americans struggling with substance use disorder can access the proven, lifesaving treatment they need."
The Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a public education campaign about the dangers of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, as well as the treatment services available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The bill would also direct the CDC to disseminate information on synthetic opioids to health care providers and require the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to publish training materials for first responders and other workers at high risk of exposure on synthetic opioid exposure prevention measures.
The bill was introduced with Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and is endorsed by organizations on the front lines of the fight against synthetic opioids including the National Council for Behavioral Health, Shatterproof, U.S. First Responders Association, National Association of State EMS Officials, and International Association of Fire Fighters.
"Synthetic opioids like fentanyl pose a critical danger to communities in New Hampshire and across the country," said Congressman Pappas. "I am grateful for the hard work of our health and public safety experts who are tireless in their efforts to heal our communities from substance misuse. As we work to combat rising overdose numbers, we must do more to increase awareness of the dangers of synthetic opioids and ensure our first responders have the resources they need to get deadly substances out of our communities. I will continue working to craft a long-term solution to stop these substances from taking the lives of our family members, friends, and neighbors; and the passage of the Synthetic Opioid Danger Awareness Act is a welcome step forward."
Congressman Kim is a cosponsor of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate red tape for health care providers to prescribe buprenorphine, a proven treatment that has saved countless Americans struggling with substance use disorder but remains inaccessible for many. Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.
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