U.S. House Passes Rep. Smith's Legislation to Fight Opioid Epidemic

Press Release

The United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the SUPPORT Act, which includes Congressman Jason Smith's (MO-08) Perioperative Reduction of Opioids (PRO) Act, designed to fight the opioid addiction epidemic in the United States.

Rep. Smith's legislation will help prevent opioid misuse and abuse after patients are discharged from surgery, where patients are most likely to be exposed to opioids. Smith's bill will also better inform patients on pain management and set up systems for safe storage and disposal of unused opioid prescriptions.

"To fix any problem you have to get to the source, and I'm proud the House of Representatives passed my legislation to fight the addiction where it begins and limit unnecessary exposure to addictive opioids," said Congressman Smith. "Millions of patients every year are exposed to opioids after surgery, and many patients have leftover pills which creates the opportunity for addiction, resale, and abuse."

Congressman Smith's legislation focuses on the surgical setting and the role it plays in long-term opioid addiction. Eighty percent of patients who step foot in a surgery room receive opioids, and roughly seventy-five percent of patients have leftover unused opioids after a surgery. Because of Smith's legislation, the medical community will have the tools they need to minimize unnecessary opioid exposure during surgery.

"Congressman Smith has consistently supported our communities and law enforcement as we fight opioid addiction, which has taken so many of our loved ones," said Poplar Bluff Chief of Police Danny Whiteley. "Opioid addiction is one of the biggest problems facing rural communities, and we're proud that Congressman Smith has felt our pain and advocated for real solutions to fight this terrible epidemic."

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