October 4, 2018 Press Releases

Senate Passes Bipartisan Opioid Legislation with Key Evidence Provisions

On a 98-1 Vote, Senators Send Bill to the President that Would Evaluate the Impact of Key Interventions and Steer Investments toward Evidence-Based Services

Washington, DCResults for America issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 98-1 to approve the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, bipartisan legislation that includes key provisions that will use data, evidence and evaluation to help fight the opioid crisis. The bill, which was approved by the U.S. House last week by a vote of 393-8, now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.

On average, 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Every 15 minutes, a baby is born in withdrawal after being exposed to opioids before birth, according to recent research,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America.  We cannot fight this epidemic without evidence and data. That’s why we were heartened that lawmakers of both parties overwhelmingly approved this legislation that will use evidence to help respond to the opioid crisis.

The bill, which includes 93 references to evidence, would authorize at least $195 million for evidence-based services and evaluations. The legislation includes:

  • $50 million to help state education agencies, school districts, and tribal governments increase evidence-based trauma support services and mental health care;
  • $20 million per year for states, local governments, and nonprofits to develop, enhance, or evaluate family-focused residential treatment programs that meet the evidence definitions in the Family First Prevention Services Act;
  • $15 million for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to replicate and rigorously evaluate the impact of a family recovery and reunification program;
  • $10 million per year to support evidence-based services to prevent and treat substance use disorders affecting children, adolescents, and young adults; and
  • Up to $100 million for pilot projects to address economic and workforce impacts associated with a high rate of substance abuse disorder, which includes a requirement for an independent evaluation of each project.

Results for America was proud to work with lawmakers and staff from the U.S. Senate HELP and U.S. Senate Finance Committees to support this bipartisan bill. In May, RFA hosted a conference call with the Republican and Democratic staff of the HELP Committee and key stakeholders – including state and local policymakers, researchers and nonprofit leaders – to discuss the evidence provisions in earlier versions of the bill.

Results for America looks forward to continuing to work with federal leaders on implementing these provisions, as well as with state and local leaders to help them adopt an evidence-based approach to combating the opioid epidemic.

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