Capito Praises President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to Fight the Opioid Epidemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today issued the following statement regarding President Donald J. Trump’s comprehensive initiative to help stop opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand:

“Since his campaign, President Trump has made fighting the opioid crisis a top priority. From creating a commission to address this growing crisis to declaring it a national public health emergency, he has worked to raise awareness of the issue and—even more importantly—to explore and deliver solutions to fight it. The plan the president announced today is a significant step forward in combatting this epidemic, and it proves that the administration truly understands it is going to take a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck approach to make real progress in this fight.

“In West Virginia, we understand better than most the tragic consequences of the opioid epidemic. We see them every day in our neighborhoods and communities. That’s why I have worked for years to deliver legislative solutions and funding resources to support a whole spectrum of solutions—including everything from prevention and enforcement to treatment and recovery. That is exactly the approach President Trump and his administration are taking as well, and I look forward to continuing our work together to fight this epidemic, provide help for those struggling with addiction, and ultimately, put an end to the opioid crisis.”

BACKGROUND

Senator Capito has long advocated for efforts and resources to fight the opioid epidemic, address current challenges, and develop new solutions to the drug crisis. She has introduced numerous legislative solutions to address the problem, including: 

• The INTERDICT Act, legislation President Trump recently signed into law to help stop the flow of the illicit opioid fentanyl across the U.S. border.

• The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 Act, legislation to increase the funding authorization levels for the CARA programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic

• The Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act, legislation to test alternative pain management protocols to limit the use of opioids in hospital emergency departments.

• The Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies (CRIB) Act, legislation to help newborns suffering from addiction recover in the best setting and provide support to their families.

• The Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion (Medicaid CARE) Act, legislation to expand access to substance abuse treatment for tens of thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries across the country.

A leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Capito has also secured critical resources to fight the opioid epidemic and oversees funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy as chair of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee.

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