Collins Pleased to See House Pass Opioid Bill

9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins said he is pleased that the U.S. House has passed a conference report for a bill to deal with the issue of opioids.

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to approve the Conference Report for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016.

In May, the House and Senate passed their own versions of the legislation, and a Conference Committee was appointed to reconcile the bills.

Congressman Collins was a member of the Conference Committee.

He said that the legislation is a comprehensive package of policies, including grant programs, plans to expand drug treatment courts, and changes to how these drugs are prescribed.

In addition, Collins said the legislation would also equip law enforcement to respond more effectively to drug related crimes, so that they could divert people from prison and into the treatment programs where they will get the support they need to recover.

The Hall County Republican said heroin and opioid addiction is a silent epidemic that is killing friends and neighbors.

He went on to say that in Northeast Georgia, he has heard from virtually every Sheriffs and law enforcement official he has spoken to that heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription drug related crimes are on the rise, adding that no community is immune from addiction, and the pain and suffering that it brings to families.

Collins said he urges the Senate to approve the conference report as soon as possible, so that these programs may begin to move forward.