MARTINSBURG — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito is expecting broad support for the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which is aimed at helping communities nationally combat the growing drug epidemic that is already all too real in West Virginia.
That was part of the message she delivered during a floor speech supporting the initiative, when she noted that "West Virginia has the unfortunate distinction of leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths more than twice the national average. As I travel across the state, I hear constantly about the devastation caused by this epidemic."
Capito, R-W.Va., said additional measures are needed to combat this problem - especially the rise of opioid abuse coupled with increasing heroin overdose deaths -and the proposed legislation is a big step toward making a difference on a number of fronts.
"This bipartisan bill, also known as CARA, addresses the opioid epidemic by expanding prevention and education, and promoting resources for treatment and recovery. It includes reforms to help law enforcement respond to the drug epidemic, and supports long-term recovery programs," she said.
The legislation also expands the availability of naloxone, a lifesaving drug that helps to reverse overdoses, and creates disposal sites for unwanted prescriptions, Capito said.
"CARA provides resources for treatment alternatives to incarceration. Like the successful drug court programs that operate in West Virginia and many other states," she said, adding that some reports show that state counties with drug courts have reported cost savings and lower recidivism rates among graduates.
As proposed, the legislation also includes a provision to improve treatment programs for pregnant women and mothers who have a substance use disorder.
That's especially important because many communities in the state are seeing an increased number of babies being born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, Capito said.
She said the overall goal is to focus on programs that already work while also streamlining efforts across multiple federal agencies.
Capito is also working on several amendments, including what she terms "solutions to improve prescribing practices and prevent overprescribing."
For example, she proposes creating "clear Center for Disease Control guidelines for prescribing opioids for acute pain," Capito said.
It's also important to allow doctors to partially-fill certain opioid prescriptions - a practice that's not currently legal in all states, she said.
"This will reduce the number of unused painkillers and help to prevent future cases of drug abuse and addiction," Capito said.
"Additionally, in order to reduce the number of overdose deaths, I am working with Senator (Tim) Kaine (D-Va.) to allow doctors to co-prescribe the lifesaving drug naloxone when they prescribe an opioid. This would make naloxone more widely available in federal health care settings such as community health centers, VA clinics and Department of Defense facilities," she said.
She is also offering an amendment aimed at giving the "smallest victims of this epidemic access to the specialized care they need. In West Virginia, babies born exposed to opioids during pregnancy are approximately three times the national average. Nationwide, this condition increased five-fold from 2000 to 2012," Capito said.
As a result, Capito is hoping to provide clear guidelines to encourage the creation of residential pediatric recovery centers, like Lily's Place in Huntington, West Virginia, she said, adding that U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W/Va., is also working on this effort.
"CARA represents a positive step forward in addressing the opioid crisis. The four amendments that I have outlined will strengthen the bill. They would prevent addiction, promote recovery and curb the scourge of drug addiction in my state and others across the country," Capito said.
"By working together, we can change these statistics and stop more tragedies from occurring. We are in jeopardy of losing a generation if we don't address this crisis now," she said.