DEA Updates Addiction Treatment Policy Based on Sen. Brown’s Legislation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- The office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release:

Today, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) enacted a measure to expand medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction based on U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown's The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment Act (TREAT Act). The bipartisan TREAT Act allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants who meet certain qualifications to prescribe buprenorphine, medication used in the treatment of opioid addiction. DEA announced the enactment of TREAT Act provisions this week after the TREAT Act was signed into law as part of a larger legislative package to address the opioid epidemic in 2016.

"It shouldn't be easier for those struggling with addiction to access opioids than it is for them to get the help they need," said Brown. "To change that, we must remove the barriers that prevent willing providers from treating more patients and leave patients languishing on waiting lists."

Today, the Trump Administration also announced an extension of the opioid public health emergency following calls from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senate colleagues for renewal. Since little has been done following the initial declaration, Brown called on the Trump Administration to follow through on today's extension with concrete action and funding.

Earlier this month, Brown's bipartisan bill to keep illegal fentanyl out of Ohio, the INTERDICT Act, was signed into law by President Trump. The law will provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with additional hi-tech screening equipment and lab resources to detect fentanyl before it enters the U.S.

In July 2016, following calls from Brown, the Department of Health and Human Services announced efforts to expand access to medication-assisted treatment by increasing the number of patients a qualified health care provider can treat using MAT from 100 patients to 275 patients.