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Access to medical treatment for opioid addiction could be more readily accessible under bi-partisan legislation introduced by Senator Gary Peters.
Opioid addiction is a problem that is engulfing the nation and certain forms of treatment are not available to minors.
Peters said, “The problem is that right now those medicated assisted treatments are only allowed for adults, only folks who are 18 and over, and if you talk to health professionals across the county, they say there’s no reason for that to happen, we should change that law, especially for adolescents—folks who are 15, 16 and 17 years old who may find themselves addicted to opioids.”
The Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act would increase access for youth to medication assisted treatments, such as buprenorphine and methadone.
Peters says this is an issue where legislators need to put their differences aside and implement a solution.
Peters said, “This is a crisis. We have to make this a funding priority. We are going to work and certainly I’m focused on making sure this money is available to people who desperately need it and are being impacted by it.”
The bill is currently under consideration by a Senate committee.
Here is more information on the bill: https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-capito-introduce-bill-to-expand-access-to-opioid-addiction-treatment-for-adolescents
