The Conference Report of Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act is expected to move to the floor for a vote this Friday. Now is the time to contact your Members of Congress and urge them vote in favor of this critical legislation.
The United States is currently in the midst of two national epidemics. Heroin use and prescription opioid misuse are having a devastating impact on the public health and safety of our communities nationwide. Each day, 129 Americans die as a result of drug overdose and more than half of those deaths involve opioids. As psychologists, we know that substance use disorders are treatable, yet only about 10 percent of individuals who need treatment are receiving it. Discoveries in the science of addiction have led to life-saving advances in drug abuse treatments. However, there is critical need for training and resources to disseminate information and improve access to evidence-based treatment nationwide.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) will save lives and improve the health and safety of our communities by addressing critical components of the response to the opioid epidemic including: prevention, treatment, recovery, and interactions with the criminal justice system. Please contact your Members of Congress TODAY to ask them to vote in favor of the CARA Conference Report and send it to the President’s desk for signature.