Boozman speaks of opioid efforts

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., spoke about efforts to curb opioid abuse during a speech Wednesday on the Senate floor.

A new law, passed just over a year ago, is helping to turn the tide in the nation’s opioid epidemic, the lawmaker from Rogers said.

“There’s been a noticeable difference,” he said.

“As a result of this comprehensive reform, law enforcement is now better equipped to stop illegal opioids from reaching our communities and efforts have been stepped up at the border to cut off the influx of fentanyl from China. More first responders have been trained to administer [Naloxone], which has prevented opioid overdoses from claiming more lives in our communities. Most importantly, we’ve saved lives by increasing access to mental health and addiction treatment services for those struggling to overcome opioid dependence.”

Boozman also highlighted Arkansas Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a semiannual effort to collect and dispose of drugs that are no longer needed.

Disposing of unneeded prescriptions can be a lifesaver, he said.

“Research has found that the majority of opioid abusers get their drugs from friends and family, often lifting pills from a familiar medicine cabinet,” he said.

The number of deaths involving opioids was 47,600 in 2017, up from 8,048 in 1999, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Boozman wasn’t the only one addressing the topic. Senators from West Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, North Dakota, Missouri, Montana and Kansas also highlighted the problem.