Markey praises efforts on behalf of prescription drug, heroin crises

WASHINGTON – Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) is praising new steps to be taken by the Obama administration to address the prescription drug and heroin crisis.The Department of Health and Human Services announced it will fo?cus on three areas: providing education and resources to reduce inappropriate prescribing of opioid painkillers, increasing the use of naloxone to reduce overdoses, and expanding availability of coordinated medication-assisted treatment and recovery services to reduce opioid use disorders and overdoses.Last year, Markey released a comprehensive plan to address the opiates crisis and called on HHS to take these actions as part of a comprehensive solution that addresses addiction from prevention, through treatment and enforcement.”There are daily tragedies of addiction playing out on sidewalks, in cars in deserted parking lots, in emergency rooms, and silently in homes across Massachusetts and the country,”said Senator Ma?r?key. “Everyone suffering from prescription drug or heroin addiction needs hope, support and a plan to achieve recovery, and our country needs a comprehensive strategy to combat this deadly epid?emic.I commend our nation’s top public health agency for prioritizing this issue and committing to taking these important first steps to address the urgency of this crisis, but much more needs to be done,” Markey said. “We need a comprehensive solution that brings together, science, medicine, public health and law enforcement on the federal, state and local levels to stop addiction before it takes hold and secure treatment when its needed most. The budget amendmentI am offering today is just one way in which I will continue to fight for the resources necessary to combat this scourge.”