The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act bill was passed in a 407-5 vote by the House of Representatives on Friday, according to Forbes.
Although bipartisan disagreements over funding temporarily stalled legislation, the bill was finalized last week.
Now, the legislation will head to the Senate for approval before reaching the president's desk.
The CARA bill includes the following efforts to fight the opioid epidemic:
· Expanding alcohol and drug prevention education
· Expanding the availability of naloxone (antidote to opioid overdoses)
· Increasing collaboration with law enforcement and criminal justice systems
· Creating more disposal and turn-in sites for unwanted prescription medications
· Increasing availability of treatment, including evidence-based and medication-assisted programs
· Creating prescription drug monitoring programs to monitor prescription trends for indications of abuse and help at-risk individuals access critical services
· Increasing physicians' ability to prescribe medications to help treat addiction
· Continuing physician education regarding prescriber guidelines
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