The bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) is an effort to fight opiate abuse in the United States, where heroin overdoses have more than tripled in the last five years. The bill was sent to presidential desk last week for the President’s approval, the final version of which was recently approved by the House and Senate. The bill will focus to battle heroin and opioid abuse.

The bill will ensure new grants and resources for people who need drug overdose-related treatment and would help them quit addiction. This will also improve access to medication-assisted therapy. Prosecutors will also receive aid for combating the issue of drug trafficking. There are several reforms that the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act will bring once being enacted.

Under the bill, HR 4063, the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act will improve the use of opioid therapy and pain management in treating veterans, while S32, the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act would impose penalties for extraterritorial drug trafficking and production. In addition, HR 5048, the Good Samaritan Assessment Act will direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study state and local laws that protect people who administer opioid overdose reversal drugs.

Moreover, HR 4843, the Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act will require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate information on safe care plans for infants affected by substance abuse. HR 3680, the Co-prescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act, will establish a grant program for co-prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs. The bill does not end here, there is much more listed under it.

The House also passed legislation called the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, a bipartisan bill that would help people deal with serious mental health challenges, which sometime force them into drug addiction.

"This week, the Senate passed a bipartisan measure to address the drug epidemic that is crushing communities across America. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) takes a broad step forward in the national response to the drug crisis. This legislation, which will soon be signed into law by the president, contains several provisions that will help combat West Virginia's drug epidemic," according to a news report published by Herald-Dispatch.

It expands the availability of naloxone, a life-saving drug that helps to reverse overdoses, and creates disposal sites for unwanted prescriptions. It will lead to safer and more effective pain management for our veterans who are battling addiction.

"As you know, 129 Americans die each day as a result of drug overdose and this epidemic affects the public health and safety in every community across the country. This bill is the critical response we need," the groups wrote in a joint letter urging quick action on this legislation.

According to a report in Poughkeepsie Journal by Chris Gibson, "Having witnessed the devastation caused by the heroin epidemic in the Hudson Valley, I am especially proud to have advocated for this legislation and co-authored several of its provisions. I am certain this bill will bring substantive gains in our fight to restore the health of our communities and keep our people safe."

Too many families lack access to treatment, including hospitalization, for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. This has led to an increase in drug abuse, violent acts and homelessness. HR 2646 was introduced by Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18), a psychologist who has illuminated the struggles of the 11 million American families experiencing a mental health crisis.

As the husband of a licensed clinical social worker, I am excited to help advance these efforts. I will continue to partner with local caregivers and public safety officials to see that our communities have the resources they need to reach out to people who are suffering and provide them with a path to recovery.