WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) passed the Senate last night. Senator Coons is an original co-sponsor of CARA. The President is expected to sign this bill into law in the coming weeks.
“Delaware has been facing a devastating crisis of deaths due to heroin and opioid drug overdoses that has left no part of the country unscathed,” said Senator Coons. “The real tragedy of this epidemic is that it is preventable with the right programs and resources. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act provides us with a path forward for strengthening the federal role in providing resources for evidence-based drug treatment and prevention programs, as well as combatting the over-prescription of opioids and other prescription medications, one of the biggest drivers of this crisis. The bill lays out a framework for federal, state, and local law enforcement, health care, and treatment centers to work together to tackle this serious challenge to public health in our country.
“While this bill is an important step forward in combatting this national crisis, it does not include the resources necessary to follow through on its promise of ensuring Americans suffering from addiction can access the help they need. That's why I have joined my colleagues in urging Senator McConnell to bring up measures to devote funding to the crisis. I will continue working with my colleagues to provide the funding required to address this epidemic head on.”
