The bipartisan End Veterans Overdose Act, led by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo of Idaho and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, advanced out of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee by unanimous vote on Mar. 19. The bill aims to address substance use disorder among veterans by expanding access to overdose reversal medications and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
The legislation is intended to help reduce opioid-related deaths among veterans, a group that faces significant risks from substance use disorders. By making lifesaving medications more accessible, lawmakers hope to remove barriers for veterans seeking treatment.
“Removing barriers to accessing opioid overdose reversal medications for veterans and their caregivers will help reduce the stigma around seeking treatment and save lives,” said Crapo. “This bill builds upon existing efforts by the VA to address the opioid crisis, and the Committee’s action today to move this critical bill forward recognizes the urgency of this issue.”
Shaheen said, “Anything we can do to save more lives from being lost to the substance use disorder crisis, we should be doing – and increasing access to overdose reversal agents at VA facilities is a commonsense step we can take to make these highly-effective treatments more accessible to veterans. I’m glad that my colleagues on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee agreed and unanimously voted to advance our legislation to the Senate floor. I look forward to earning the bipartisan support to pass our bill and help fight the substance use epidemic facing our nation’s veterans.”
Currently, Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacies provide naloxone at no cost but require a prescription from a provider. The proposed act would establish a one-year pilot program allowing all veterans access to naloxone and other overdose reversal agents without a prescription at VA pharmacies. The American Legion has endorsed this legislation.
Crapo has advocated for Idahoans on issues such as responsible forest management and natural resource protection, according to the official website. He grew up in Idaho Falls with his wife Susan, raising five children together according to his official website. Crapo served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for Idaho’s Second Congressional District according to his official website, earned degrees from Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School according to his official website, and currently serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Finance according to his official website.
As Congress considers next steps for this legislation, supporters say it could play an important role in addressing opioid overdoses among veterans nationwide.
