Bills
| 3.23.22

Do State and Local Health Programs Need More Funding for Treating Opioid Addiction? (H.R. 5046)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 5046?

(Updated May 14, 2021)

This bill would create a Dept. of Justice (DOJ) grant program for state and local governments to use to provide services related to opioid abuse. $103 million per year in grants would be used for the purpose of creating a treatment-focused alternative to incarceration and preventing illegal activities that lead to opioid abuse. Opioids are narcotic drugs that may be created using opium from poppy seed or synthetically, which is often the case with many prescription painkillers.

The treatment alternative to incarceration could include the following:

  • Pre- or post-booking screenings;

  • Training for criminal justice personnel on the linkage between substance abuse and mental illness;

  • A mental health court;

  • A drug court;

  • A veterans treatment court.

States would be able to use these grants to improve planning and collaboration between state criminal justice agencies and state substance abuse programs with the goal of addressing opioid abuse. It would also provide for purchasing overdose reversal drugs and training first responders to administer the drug. Additional uses could include:

  • Investigating the unlawful distribution of opioids;

  • Developing a medication-assisted treatment program;

  • Creating or expanding a prescription drug monitoring program to track how often the drugs are dispensed at pharmacies; a program to prevent and address opioid use by people under the age of 18; and / or a comprehensive opioid abuse response program.

Applications would be submitted by the state, local, or tribal government’s chief executive officer to the Attorney General’s office. Before rejecting an application, the Attorney General would be required to notify the applicant about any problems with their application. The Attorney General would be required to ensure that the grants are awarded on an equitable basis geographically.

Argument in favor

State and local health organizations need more federal funding for opioid addiction treatment programs. There are alternatives to sending addicts to prison and this bill could save lives and money in the long run.

Argument opposed

The federal government shouldn’t be providing grant funding for treatment-focused alternatives to incarceration. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. If state and local governments want such programs they can fund it themselves.

Impact

State and local health organizations looking to set up an opioid addiction treatment program; and the Dept. of Justice.

Cost of H.R. 5046

The CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $248 million over the 2017-2021 period and $167 million thereafter.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced this bill to counteract the growing epidemic of heroin and opioid addiction:

“For more than a decade, the rapid incline of heroin and opioid addiction has wreaked havoc on individuals, families, and communities in every part of our nation. It has increased crime and placed a heavy financial burden on American taxpayers. The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Reduction Act is a commonsense, bipartisan approach that addresses this issue head on and will make a positive impact on our fight against addiction.”

Rep. Sensenbrenner's legislation is viewed as a slimmed down version of a more robust opioid addiction bill that the Senate passed in March 2016. This bill was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on a voice vote and has the bipartisan support of 10 cosponsors—including seven Republicans and three Democrats.



Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user frankieleon)