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Legislation to address opioid abuse in rural areas

Two US Senators are sponsoring bipartisan legislation to combat opioid abuse in rural communities.

The new bill, authored by Indiana Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly and North Dakota Republican John Hoeven, would give priority to rural communities by providing grants for substance abuse, education, treatment, and prevention.

Donnelly says the funding is available through the USDA’s Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants program.

“Opioid abuse has been attacking all parts of our country- it’s not just a urban or suburban or rural plague, it affects all of us,” he says. “For ag communities, we also have seen opioid problems.”

This is the third bipartisan bill Donnelly has helped introduced to combat opioid issues.

“What I’ve worked on is trying to get together with my colleagues to make sure rural areas have strong responses to opioid challenges,” he says.

Earlier this year, Donnelly and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas introduced the Community Facilities Direct Loans and grants to expand access to treatment. He also worked with Senator Luther Strange of Alabama on Distance Learning Telemedicine Legislation.

Audio: Senator Joe Donnelly