{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-pleased-to-report-promising-movement-on-efforts-to-address-prescription-drug-abuse-and-heroin-use", "Donnelly: Pleased to Report Promising Movement on Efforts to Address Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Use", "2015-10-22", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "IN", "Joe Donnelly", "D000607", "www.donnelly.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Donnelly: Pleased to Report Promising Movement on Efforts to Address Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Use\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSenator has been working for nearly two years on bipartisan efforts to combat addiction crisis in Indiana and nationwide\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, October 22, 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly released a video today on the promising movement at the state and federal level on efforts to address prescription drug abuse and heroin use. For nearly two years, Donnelly has been working to combat the addiction epidemic in Indiana and across the country, by introducing bipartisan legislation, partnering with federal, state, and local officials, and bringing together stakeholders.\r\nDonnelly said, As too many Hoosiers have come to know first-hand, our state  and our country  have a problem with prescription drug addictionIn Indiana, prescription drug abuse is impacting towns large and smallmothers and fathersand far too often our children. The problem of prescription drug abuse has even resulted in an outbreak of HIV, serving as a painful reminder of the health and economic consequences to individuals, families, and communities. For nearly two years, I have been working to combat the prescription opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic in Indiana and across the country, and I am pleased to report promising movement on these efforts. Yesterday, the Governor and the Obama Administration announced steps to address these addiction epidemics and I am encouraged to see that both our federal and state leaders are working to improve prescribing practices and enhance prescriber engagement, raise public awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse and heroin use, and better utilize prescription drug monitoring programs at the state level, all areas where I have been advocating for change.\r\nCombatting the addiction epidemic in our state will take all of us working together, and I will continue to reach out to and partner with officials, stakeholders, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure we are doing all that we can to keep our communities safe and treat those who are suffering from addiction.\r\n\r\nTo watch Donnellys full remarks, click here.\r\nAs part of his ongoing effort to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemics,earlier this year, Donnelly reintroduced the bipartisanHeroin and Prescription OpioidAbuse Prevention, Education,and Enforcement Actalong with Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), which focuses on several key areas: enhancing training and education for prescribers; supporting state development of prescription drug monitoring programs; ensuring adequate funding for law enforcement; expanding access to naloxone; and raising awareness of the dangers of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. Donnelly recently made recommendations in a letter to the Governors Drug Task Force, providing suggestions for short- and long-term responses to Indianas addiction problems. In addition to offering specific suggestions to the Task Force, Donnelly emphasized that any strategy to address addiction in Indiana will require the State to not only identify necessary policy changes, but also make a commitment to implementing and funding those changes moving forward.\r\nPresident Obamas announcement included actions to improve prescriber training and practices in addition to a public awareness campaign to bring attention to this crisis, principles included in Donnellys legislation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-pleased-to-report-promising-movement-on-efforts-to-address-prescription-drug-abuse-and-heroin-use"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.2366230841726065, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}