Senator Young’s Opioid Bills Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) applauded the President’s signature of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. The legislation, which contains six provisions that were introduced or co-led by Senator Young, passed the Senate on a 98-1 vote earlier this month.

“This bipartisan opioid package is now law, meaning that more resources will be available in the fight against the devastating opioid epidemic,” said Senator Young. “I introduced six bills that are included in this new law, which will help us better understand and treat opioid addiction in order to save lives in Indiana and across America.”

The bipartisan legislative package authorizes funding for states to continue fighting the opioid epidemic, provides more authority for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to research, develop, and bring to market non-addictive, non-opioid alternatives, and helps the U.S. Postal Service stop illegal drug shipments at the border.

Senator Young’s following six bills were signed into law by the President today as part of H.R. 6:

• The Dr. Todd Graham Pain Management Improvement Act of 2018 (S.3008), which is named for Todd A. Graham, M.D. – a South Bend doctor killed after refusing to prescribe an opioid. The bill was introduced by Senator Young and Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), and aims to reduce overprescribing of opioids by examining ways to expand the use of non-opioid alternatives in Medicare.

• The Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Act of 2018 (S.2579), which aims to prevent and respond to infections commonly associated with injection drug use, including viral hepatitis and HIV. This legislation will support state and federal efforts to collect data on such infections and identify and assist patients who may be at increased risk of infection.

• The Providing Clarity in the Development of Pain Treatments Act (S. 2665), which aims to help bring non-opioid or non-addictive pain medications and treatments to patients more quickly.

• The Advancing Cutting-Edge (ACE) Research Act (S.2406), which provides the National Institutes of Health new authorities to conduct research on innovative, non-addictive pain medications.

• The Advancing Innovation in Alternative Pain and Addiction Therapies Act (S.2669), which clarifies the Accelerated Approval Process at FDA to bring novel, non-addictive drugs and treatments to market more quickly.

• The Jobs Plus Recovery Act (S. 2642), which incorporates job training into drug addiction recovery programs. The bipartisan legislation would establish a pilot program that gives individuals impacted by opioid addiction or substance use disorders access to job training and support services to aid in their recovery and lower their likelihood of relapse.