In the near future I plan to introduce legislation that will ensure access to non-opioid alternatives to pain treatment.
 
Pennsylvania and its residents have been significantly impacted by the opioid crisis. According to the Commonwealth’s Opioid Data Dashboard, “[t]he opioid overdose epidemic is the worst public health crisis in Pennsylvania, and the nation, in almost a generation.”  In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, there were 4,719 drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania. Of those 4,719 deaths, more than 83 percent were opioid related. Further, the Opioid Data Dashboard indicates nearly 300,000 Pennsylvanians suffer from drug use disorders, including opioid use disorder (OUD). Although we have seen incremental progress over the past couple years, significant work remains to ensure we are comprehensively addressing this crisis, including focusing on prevention.   
 
One of the known pathways to opioid-use is being prescribed an opioid for pain treatment. Public health agencies across the country, including the Pennsylvania Department of Health, have implemented best practices to reduce overprescribing of opioids and enhance safe medication disposal. These efforts have demonstrated real and meaningful impact; however, we know opioid use remains a major public health issue.
 
Earlier this year the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new type of pain medication for adults with moderate to severe pain, which importantly doesn’t have addictive properties like opioids. This marked the first class of non-opioid pain medication approved by the FDA in more than 20 years. This approval also provides another important public health tool in our effort to combat the opioid crisis and help prevent additional individuals from the risk of OUD.
 
That is why I am introducing legislation to ensure access to this new class of medication and ensure it is not more difficult for patients to access than opioids. This parity legislation would provide patients with equal access to non-opioid medications as they do opioids.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this vitally important piece of legislation that will ensure access to non-opioid treatment options and help Pennsylvania continue to combat the opioid crisis in a comprehensive manner.