Senate Committee Addresses Opioid Crisis

On October 5, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing, “The Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis.” The hearing focused on programs underway at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the opioid epidemic. The witnesses also noted the efforts to treat pregnant women and infants born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

The following witnesses testified:

• Elinore F. McCance-Katz, MD, PhD, assistant secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, SAMHSA;
• Debra Houry, MD, MPH, director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC;
• Francis Collins, MD, PhD, director, NIH;
• Scott Gottlieb, MD, commissioner, FDA