[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               END THE OVER-PRESCRIPTION OF PAIN KILLERS

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, last month the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention issued guidelines that urge primary care physicians to 
think twice before prescribing opioids for pain relief. I strongly 
support their call. Last year I asked the Federation of State Medical 
Boards to encourage stronger guidelines as well.
  New research suggests that the over-prescription of opioids may be 
widespread across the medical community. Pain management is an 
important part of a physician's practice, but it is critical that 
prescribers understand when options other than these highly addictive 
drugs are available.
  Mr. Speaker, last year the number of fatal overdoses from 
prescription painkillers increased by 16 percent and, from heroin, 28 
percent. There are 19,000 Americans who lost their lives, and more die 
every day.
  I thank the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their work 
on this issue, and I urge the administration, Congress, and the medical 
community to end the over-prescription of painkillers.

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