Kean Introduces Bill to Conduct Study on Illicit Drugs
Contact: Dan Scharfenberger
(October 30, 2023) WASHINGTON D.C. - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) introduced the Curbing Illicit Drug Threats Act, to implement more surveillance programs related to illicit drug use.
In recent years, the U.S. drug overdose deaths have hit a record high, with nearly 83,000 fatalities in 2022. According to the CDC, the 82,998 predicted opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12-month period ending in December 2022 is an increase from 82,310 in the previous year. Previous studies released earlier this year have found that many illicit drugs have been circulating before they were widely reported in national data. This bill would conduct a study of the current US agencies handling overdose deaths and how they can improve so the government and agencies can work together to make better-informed decisions on how to improve or reduce overdoses.
"Drug overdose fatalities in the United States have surged to an unprecedented level," said Congressman Kean. "It is crucial that we continue to study and research the impact of illicit drugs to ensure that government agencies are handling this issue effectively. I am proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan bill, and I am confident this legislation can create a safer, healthier future for all Americans."
“Illicit drugs are killing people every day in Colorado and dangerous new drugs are cropping up all the time. But lack of communication between federal drug surveillance programs means we only become aware of these substances after they’ve started circulating in our community. I was alarmed to learn that deaths related to 'tranq,' the subject of my bipartisan TRANQ Research Act, began to surge in 2018 – years earlier than initially reported,” said Congresswoman Caraveo. “With the health and safety of our families hanging in the balance, we can’t afford to get caught flat footed. I’m proud to work with Congressman Kean on my latest bipartisan bill, the Curbing Illicit Drug Threats Act, which will ensure authorities focus on early detection of emerging drug threats before they pose a danger to our communities.”
The Curbing Illicit Drug Threads Act emphasizes the need for timely data on illicit drug use by requiring GAO to conduct a study on the efficacy of federal drug surveillance systems in providing updated information on illicit drug use nationwide, including any limitation affecting efficacy, and how these systems are being used to address illicit drug use in the U.S. In addition to a study, this bill would require GAO to release a report after conducting the study to provide information on the findings of the study, and any recommendations to strengthen interagency communication and data collection procedures.
Congressman Kean serves on the House Science, Space and Technology committee.
You can find more information about this bill here.
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