Senator Tim Kaine: Combatting the opioid epidemic in Virginia

The opioid and substance abuse epidemic continues to hurt communities in Virginia and poses significant public health and law enforcement challenges, and we’re past due for strong legislation that can address it. We need to really commit our resources to addressing this crisis from all angles, especially prevention, treatment and recovery

That’s why I’m proud that we’ve recently passed opioid crisis response legislation in the Senate committee that’s focused on public health. The bill was a real bipartisan effort and it came together after significant research, committee hearings, and feedback from the public. The legislation includes forty different proposals to increase the ways resources can be spent to combat this epidemic – including two of my bills: the Ensuring Access to Quality Recovery Living Act to improve standards for addiction recovery homes and the Jobs Plus Recovery Act to promote job training programs that include addiction recovery support services.

More specifically, the Ensuring Access to Quality Recovery Living Act would give states the information and guidelines necessary to ensure recovery homes are able to effectively help residents sustain recovery from opioid and other substance use disorders. These homes support those who are battling addiction and it’s critical for residents and their families to know that these facilities are providing a safe environment that can help people transition back into their communities.

The Jobs Plus Recovery Act would establish a pilot program that gives individuals impacted by opioid addiction or substance use disorders access to job training and support services to aid in their recovery and lower their likelihood of relapse.

“With this bipartisan reform, we are investing in better outcomes, which will have a positive impact on the economy, employers, and entire communities. We’ve made some good progress, but it’s clear that we’ve got much more work to do. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this comprehensive bill across the finish line so we can help combat this crisis.”