Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
Floor Speech
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Mr. KAINE. Mr. President. As the opioid epidemic continues to challenge the Nation, the statistics on this public health crisis show the toll it is taking on communities across the country. In Virginia in 2016, there were over 1,400 deaths from overdoses, a 38 percent increase over 2015. Eighty percent of these deaths involved opioid use. Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in Virginia, surpassing car accidents and gun violence.
While we must focus on prevention and treatment to stem the tide of addiction and overdose deaths, it is also critical that our efforts include helping people recover from addiction and return to their families, the workforce, and their lives. That includes improved access and oversight Medication Assisted Treatment, wraparound services like peer recovery supports, and ensuring that ``recovery residences'' are safe.
After treatment, many people in the early recovery stages choose to enter recovery residences. These facilities give people a stable and sober environment as they transition back into society. While these residences are growing in number due to the epidemic, we are learning that these facilities often lack oversight or regulation. There have been deaths at recovery residences due to the lack of trained professionals and standards.
Currently, no national standards or guidelines are in place to ensure that recovery homes are providing a safe environment. This situation leaves families and victims in the dark about whether the facility that is looking after their loved one is qualified. The bill I am introducing today would authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop best practices for recovery living facilities. It would also authorize SAMHSA to provide technical assistance and support to States willing to adopt best practices. Additionally, the bill would require States that use SAMHSA grants for recovery residences to meet established best practices, direct SAMHSA to provide best practice information directly to patients and ensure that SAMHSA consults with other relevant Federal agencies on drafting guidelines.
I would like to thank Senator Warren and our other cosponsors for working on this legislation, and Congresswoman Chu for championing legislation on this topic in the House.
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