{
  "id": "R44987",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R44987",
  "active": true,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 585936,
      "date": "2017-10-18",
      "retrieved": "2018-10-04T14:06:54.278796",
      "title": "The Opioid Epidemic and Federal Efforts to Address It: Frequently Asked Questions",
      "summary": "Over the last several years, there has been growing concern among the public and lawmakers in the United States about rising drug overdose deaths, which more than tripled from 1999 to 2014. In 2015, more than 52,000 people died from drug overdoses, and approximately 63% of those deaths involved an opioid. \nMany federal agencies are involved in efforts to combat opioid abuse. The primary federal agency involved in drug enforcement, including diversion control efforts for prescription opioids, is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The primary agency supporting drug treatment and prevention is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The federal government also has several programs that may be used, or are specifically designed, to address opioid abuse. These range from law enforcement assistance in combatting drug trafficking to assistance for states in developing a coordinated response to address opioid abuse. These programs span across several departments, including (but not limited to) the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).\nFederal and state lawmakers have addressed opioid abuse as a public health concern in enacting legislation that focuses heavily on prevention and treatment. During the 114th Congress, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA; P.L. 114-198) was enacted in the summer of 2016 and aimed to address the problem of opioid addiction in the United States. Further, the government enacted the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act; P.L. 114-255)\u2014a broader law that authorized new funding for medical research, amended the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approval process, and authorized additional funding to combat opioid addiction, among other things. Of note, CARA also addressed broader drug abuse issues, and the Cures Act largely addressed cures and treatment research. Congress also provided funds to specifically address opioid abuse in FY2017 appropriations.\nThis report answers common questions that have arisen as drug overdose deaths in the United States continue to increase. It does not provide a comprehensive overview of opioid abuse as a public health or criminal justice issue. The report is divided into the following sections:\nOverview of Opioid Abuse;\nOverview of Opioid Supply; \nSelect Federal Agencies and Programs that Address Opioid Abuse;\nRecent Legislation; and\nOpioid Abuse and State Policies.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": true,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "encoding": "utf-8",
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44987",
          "sha1": "e497a867c7eb5c326cdc2c9e1ebaed8dc540d59d",
          "filename": "files/20171018_R44987_e497a867c7eb5c326cdc2c9e1ebaed8dc540d59d.html",
          "images": {
            "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44987_files&id=/1.png": "files/20171018_R44987_images_e9188a0c05719ea5a2d81182c35cf4aeba5d3ca8.png",
            "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44987_files&id=/0.png": "files/20171018_R44987_images_b40971ee57b547320bf6a61dd36250147c90eb27.png"
          }
        },
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44987",
          "sha1": "662e447b14866cd586fac897d1a7389e2add0957",
          "filename": "files/20171018_R44987_662e447b14866cd586fac897d1a7389e2add0957.pdf",
          "images": {}
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4788,
          "name": "Health Care Delivery"
        },
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4793,
          "name": "Drug Control"
        },
        {
          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4932,
          "name": "Public Health Services & Special Populations"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Appropriations",
    "Crime Policy",
    "Health Policy"
  ]
}