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In this Jan. 18, 2013 file photo, Schedule 2 narcotics: Morphine Sulfate, OxyContin and Opana are displayed for a photograph. U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks authored legislation creating a task force to find ways to address the nation's prescription drug problem
AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, FileAt a House Leadership Conference on Wednesday, U.S. Congresswoman Susan Brooks praised the passage of a bill she introduced that establishes a task force to identify best practices for fighting the country’s opioid epidemic.
The House overwhelming passed the legislation with a vote of 421-4.
Brooks says her bill is one piece of the puzzle.
“My bill is about a task force bringing together patients, treatment providers and prescribers and the federal agencies involved with the prescription problem facing the country,” Brooks says.
Many heroin addicts found the drug after developing an addiction to prescription pain medicine.
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering over fifteen other opioid related bills in the coming weeks.
Brooks says the comprehensive, bipartisan effort is encouraging.
“I’m really pleased that the House is taking about more than a dozen bills, because so many members of Congress feel so strongly about this,” Brooks says. “I’m proud to be leading a bill, HR 4641, which talks about trying to change the culture in this country about prescribing practices.”
In Indiana, the legislation will help support state efforts like the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force.
The House will vote to combine a number of measures into one bill and then consider the Senate's proposals, before it heads to the President.
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