Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Less Than One In Three Americans Think Opioid Crisis Is A National Emergency
The Hill: More Than Half Think Painkillers A Major Problem, But Not A National Emergency: Report
A little over half the country considers prescription painkiller addiction a major problem for the nation, but say it doesn't rise to the level of national emergency, a new report in the New England Journal of Medicine notes. In late October, President Trump declared the epidemic a national public health emergency; declaring some type of national emergency was the “first and most urgent” recommendation from the president’s commission to address the opioid epidemic. (Roubein, 1/4)
Meanwhile, in California —
Los Angeles Times: California Bills Aim To Tackle Opioid Addiction By Curbing Excessive Prescriptions
Looking to combat the opioid abuse epidemic, a Silicon Valley legislator has introduced a slate of bills meant to clamp down on access to highly addictive prescription drugs. Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) authored three measures meant to provide a better understanding of patients’ access to these medications, building on an existing state database tracking prescriptions in California. “I don’t think there’s enough attention at the issue at hand, which is the system is not working,” Low said. (Mason, 1/4)
