WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration will issue a proposed rule Tuesday that aims to increase medication-based treatment for tens of thousands of people addicted to opioids.
The proposed rule, along with a commitment from 60 medical schools to heighten training for prescribing opioids, will coincide with President Barack Obama’s visit to Atlanta where he will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit.
Opioids are highly addictive drugs that include both prescription painkillers like codeine and morphine, as well as illegal narcotics, primarily heroin. Deaths linked to opioids soared to more than 29,000 in 2014, the highest number on record.
Congress is attempting to allocate more resources to confront the problem – one of few areas where lawmakers from both parties might reach agreement during the election year. Obama is seeking $1.1 billion in new federal funds to expand treatment for opioid addiction, which is about triple current levels.
Michael Botticelli, director of the National Drug Control Policy at the White House, told reporters in advance of the president’s trip that the extra money being sought is an acknowledgement from Obama that “there is still a significant treatment gap for people who need it.” Most of the money would fund agreements with states to expand medication-assisted treatment.