[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 5940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

  (Mr. HARDY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, drug overdose is now the leading cause of 
accidental death in America, and prescription painkillers account for 
40 percent of those 47,000 deaths.
  No one debates that these powerful medications can serve an important 
role in pain management, but we cannot ignore the ability to entrap 
innocent and unintended victims. That is why we are taking steps to 
protect those endangered by this epidemic.
  With bills passed this week, we are improving training and providing 
resources for medical providers and pharmacists, making sure that 
Federal agencies work better together, and reducing excess amounts of 
unused meds in the homes of patients with short-term needs so that 
excess medicine can be available for those still in need instead of 
falling into the hands of children and family members.
  There is always more we can do and will do in the future, but today 
is the day that America has started on the road to recovery.

                          ____________________