We must also increase access to opioid reversal agents, such as naloxone, and support access to resources to help Americans who want to overcome their substance use disorder.
Increase access to opioid reversal agents such as naloxone and support access to resources for Americans with substance use disorder.
Occurrences
Evidence
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter successfully advocated for the installation of overdose reversal kits near automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in House office buildings. The release says the boxes were installed in Rayburn, Longworth, Cannon, Ford, and O’Neill, and that the Sergeant at Arms would fill them with opioid reversal kits for emergencies.
The bill was introduced by Mr. Carter of Georgia and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Its purpose is to amend section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to enhance the ability of outsourcing facilities to mitigate drug shortages by allowing a short-term period to continue supplying the market after a drug is in shortage.
Assessments
Carter’s promise was to increase access to opioid reversal agents such as naloxone and support access to substance-use-disorder resources. The strongest evidence shows that, while serving in the same federal House office, he successfully advocated for overdose reversal kits to be installed near AEDs in House office buildings, with the Sergeant at Arms filling them for emergency use. That is a concrete, candidate-attributable increase in access to opioid reversal agents. The broader drug-shortage bill is only partial support and not necessary to establish delivery.