Washington (September 26, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security and a member of the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, along with Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), today announced the reintroduction of the Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Act, bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ongoing initiative to eliminate the risk of infectious disease caused by substance use disorder to continue through 2028. In 2018, Senators Markey, Young, and Baldwin secured the passage of legislation to expand the CDC’s initiative to collaborate with states to improve education, surveillance, and treatment of opioid use-related infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C.
The connection between HIV, hepatitis C, and injection drug-use is well-documented. This follows the CDC reporting an increasing number of hepatitis C infections over the past decade, most of which is due to injection drug-use. The high rates of transmission, especially among young people, highlights the continued need for these targeted programs to stop the spread of preventable diseases.
“The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis, and infectious diseases compound the health challenges faced by Americans suffering from substance use disorder,” said Senator Markey. “Our federal government has a duty to empower providers serving on the frontlines so they can treat every impact of this epidemic, including the spread of infectious diseases. The Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act gives Americans access to life-saving treatment through commonsense programs based on science. We need to lead with care that is compassionate to end this opioid and overdose crisis once and for all.”
“The fentanyl and opioid epidemic has far-reaching and deadly public health impacts, including spreading infectious diseases like hepatitis and HIV,” said Senator Baldwin. “While I am fighting to stop these drugs from coming into our communities and boost treatment and recovery efforts, Washington also needs to step up to help states curb the spread of diseases related to this crisis. Our bipartisan bill will give communities the tools they need to help save lives and fight this public health crisis on all fronts.”
“As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families in Indiana and across the country, we must ensure our communities have the tools necessary to help combat the spread of addiction and disease,” said Senator Young. “This commonsense legislation will support ongoing initiatives focused on eliminating the spread of deadly diseases associated with this epidemic.”
A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.
The Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Act is endorsed by the AIDS Institute, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the HIV Medicine Association, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
“The growing epidemics of HIV and viral hepatitis have been exacerbated by the ongoing opioid crisis and require a strategic, federal response. The AIDS Institute (TAI) is pleased to support and endorse the Eliminating Opioid Related Infectious Diseases Act of 2023, We are thankful and hope Congress will pass this as soon as possible to ensure uninterrupted coordination, prevention and care,” said Michael Ruppal, Executive Director of The AIDS Institute.
In July, Senator Markey applauded the inclusion of his bipartisan and bicameral Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to record military overdoses, protect service members, and military families living with substance use disorder. In May, he and his colleagues reintroduced the Stop Fentanyl Overdoses Act, legislation that would expand fentanyl testing, provide federal funding, and encourage education among public health officials to combat the opioid epidemic. In March, he and his colleagues introduced their bipartisan, bicameral Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act, legislation that would improve access to methadone, a substance use disorder medication treatment, by modernizing outdated rules.
###
