WASHINGTON – As the opioid crisis in Connecticut continues to grow, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement Wednesday after he voted to support the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a bill that will reauthorize programs to combat opioid abuse and increase access to life-saving medication such as naloxone. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Murphy continuously fought to include emergency funding in the bill that would expand addiction programs, increase resources for local law enforcement, and implement new initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. However, Congressional Republicans refused to approve the funding. 

“There is a tidal wave of addiction, overdoses and deaths that is devastating Connecticut communities and families. This bill is necessary to confront the heroin and opioid epidemic, but it is not even close to being the comprehensive solution we need,” said Murphy. “I’ve met with doctors, law enforcement and individuals struggling with addiction, and they all know that we can't beat this disease without a lot more funding for treatment programs, expanding access to medication-assisted therapy, and stopping prescription pain medications from flooding the streets. It’s inexcusable that Republican Congressional leaders are shutting down for the summer without providing communities with the money they need to save lives.”

Highlights of CARA:

  • Expands access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction:
    • Allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine
    • Establishes Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant programs to expand evidence-based medication-assisted treatment
  • Expands access to naloxone, the life-saving overdose reversal medication
  • Authorizes (but does not fund) federal grants for the following:
    • Justice Department grants to support treatment, training and enforcement program
    • HHS grants to develop or expand a state prescription drug monitoring program and support comprehensive state initiatives
    • HHS grants to community recovery organizations