McCaskill Supports Major Bipartisan Effort to Combat Opioid Epidemic in Missouri
Senator throws support behind bill that provides additional resources for prescription drug monitoring programs, cracks down on illegal importation of fentanyl, allows for safe disposal of hospice drugs
WASHINGTON – Continuing her fight to combat the opioid epidemic in Missouri and across the country, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is backing major bipartisan legislation to help address the crisis with additional support for local and statewide prevention efforts, better coordination to slow the importation of illegal shipments of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, and by closing a loophole that would allow hospice staff to safely dispose of controlled substances when a patient dies.
“Too many loved ones have lost their lives to the opioid epidemic in every corner of Missouri—and I’m going to keep fighting to make sure communities and those on the front lines of this battle have the tools and resources they need to continue the critical work they’re doing to combat it,” McCaskill said. “This bipartisan plan is a significant opportunity to make real progress with commonsense, innovative proposals to empower folks on the ground, stop powerful drugs like fentanyl from flooding our streets, and increase coordination and prevention efforts.”
The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 contains several McCaskill-backed provisions that would improve the ability of the federal government to address the opioid crisis—including overdose prevention grants to strengthen local prescription drug monitoring programs, working with prescribers on prevention activities, and studying the use of prescribing guidelines. Also included is a provision to allow hospice physicians and registered nurses the ability to safely dispose of controlled substances when a patient dies or the medication expires.
Additionally, a McCaskill-backed proposal to improve detection and seizure of illegal drugs, such as fentanyl, through stronger coordination between the Food and Drug Administration and Customs and Border Protection, while requiring and providing equipment to test and detect controlled substances, was also included.
McCaskill has been an outspoken advocate in combating the opioid epidemic. Following her successful work to ensure county and municipal level prescription drug monitoring programs would be eligible for federal funds and her support for their grant applications, McCaskill announced that St. Louis County was awarded $1 million to support the network of county and city level prescription drug monitoring programs in Missouri. Additionally, McCaskill recently praised $10 million in federal support for Missouri to combat the crisis and reduce opioid overdose related deaths by increasing access to treatment, and supporting prevention and recovery activities.
In her role as the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, McCaskill has worked to enhance border security and target drug trafficking. President Trump signed into law a McCaskill-backed bill to help stop the flow of fentanyl across the borders. The bill arms Customs and Border Protection with additional chemical screening devices to help detect illegal opioids. McCaskill has also requested documents from the Departments of State and Homeland Security, and United States Postal Service about intercepting opioid shipments from foreign countries.
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