Pallone Visits Metuchen to Discuss Legislation Addressing Opioid Epidemic

Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), the senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, visited Boyt Drugs in Metuchen to discuss legislation addressing the growing opioid and heroin epidemic in New Jersey. Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and Middlesex Freeholder Charles Kenny also attended the event.

Last week, Pallone helped advance 12 bills to address our nation’s opioid abuse epidemic through the Health subcommittee. The pieces of legislation address opioid abuse treatment, prevention and recovery and are expected to be voted on by the full Energy and Commerce Committee this week. In New Jersey, more than 184,000 individuals have been admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities for heroin or opioid abuse since 2010 and more than 5,000 have died from heroin-related deaths since 2004. Metuchen is located in Middlesex County, where heroin-related death rates are some of the highest in the state.

“This opioid and heroin epidemic affects families from all walks of life and unfortunately, has become personal for too many New Jersey families that have been impacted by addiction or lost loved ones to an overdose,” said Pallone. “The legislation moving through the Energy and Commerce committee tackles the issue by recognizing the complex set of factors that contribute to the crisis, and delivering new resources to increase access to necessary services and support those on a path to recovery.”

Among the bills, the Reducing Unused Medications Act is a measure which would empower patients, doctors and their pharmacists to request a partial fill of opioid prescriptions, limiting the number of unused opioids in homes across the country that can make their way onto the black market.

The amount of prescription opioids dispensed in the U.S. has nearly quadrupled in the last 15 years, and over 70 percent of adults who misuse prescription opioids get them for free from a friend or a relative. This is often due to the fact that many patients fill legitimate prescriptions for opioids and for one reason or another do not use the entirety of the prescription.

Also included in the package of bills before the Energy and Commerce Committee is the DXM Abuse Prevention Act. DXM is a cough suppressant found in more than 100 over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. In recent years, an estimated one in 30 teenagers have admitted to abusing these cough and cold medicines to get high, with some reporting taking more than 25 times the recommended dose. The legislation would require pharmacy retailers to have verification systems in place to ensure those under the age 18 cannot purchase DXM. Further, it would prevent the possession and distribution of unfinished DXM by entities that are not registered or licensed with the federal or state government.