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Senate Passes Bill to Address Opioid Abuse

After a prolonged debate over funding levels, the Senate passed on March 10 the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 524), by a vote of 94-1. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), on February 11 (see The Source, 2/12/16).

As amended, the bill would authorize $62 million annually through FY2020 for grants awarded by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice to combat opioid addiction. In particular, the grants would authorize $15.9 million annually for a pilot program to treat pregnant and postpartum women.