Advocates for Opioid Recovery

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Advocates for Opioid Recovery (AOR) is an advocacy group founded by Former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Van Jones, a former domestic policy adviser to former United States President Barack Obama. [1]

Contents

Activities

The group's activities have included publishing op-eds and providing interviews to push for opioid addiction treatment. [2]

As paid advisers for the group, Kennedy, Gingrich and Van Jones have conducted a number of joint interviews with various media outlets, ranging from Fox News to the New Yorker. [3]

The group's social media campaign "#LetsTrumpAddiction" is aimed at encouraging President Trump to reaffirm his commitment to ending the opioid crisis. [4] [5]

Positions

Gingrich, Kennedy and Jones have called for Congress to fix the national shortage of physicians who are certified to prescribe opioid recovery medication, as well as the laws that restrict the number of addicted patients a physician can treat in a year. They have called for insurance companies to start covering treatments with medication in the same manner as they cover treatments for any other chronic disease. Additionally, they have called for drug courts to encourage treatment with medication as part of sentencing. [6]

Funding

According to STAT News , Gingrich stated he had no idea who was funding the organization. [3] According to USA Today , the organization is funded by a grant from Braeburn Pharmaceuticals. [1]

Related Research Articles

Patrick J. Kennedy American politician

Patrick Joseph Kennedy II is an American politician and mental health advocate. From 1995 to 2011, he served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 1st congressional district. He is a former member of the President's Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, and co-founder of One Mind.

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Opioid use disorder Medical condition

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a substance use disorder relating to the use of an opioid. Any such disorder causes significant impairment or distress. Signs of the disorder include a strong desire to use opioids, increased tolerance to opioids, difficulty fulfilling obligations, trouble reducing use, and withdrawal symptoms with discontinuation. Opioid withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, muscle aches, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, agitation, and a low mood. Addiction and dependence are components of a substance use disorder. Complications may include opioid overdose, suicide, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and problems at school, work, or home.

Buprenorphine Opioid used to treat opioid and opiate addiction and dependence, acute pain, and chronic pain

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Buprenorphine/naloxone Opioid treatment

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Opioid epidemic in the United States Ongoing overuse of opioid medication in the US

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SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, also known as Substance Use–Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, is a United States federal law, enacted during the 115th United States Congress, to make medical treatment for opioid addiction more widely available while also cracking down on illicit drugs. This piece of legislation is part of the ongoing conflict to stop and prevent the opioid epidemic in the United States. President Trump signed the bill on October 24, 2018.

Opioid epidemic Type of drug epidemic

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References

  1. 1 2 "As he chairs Trump's opioid commission, Christie champions his home-state drug companies". USA Today. October 19, 2017.
  2. "Physician-payment disclosure bill is a good first step – but more needed". The Globe and Mail. 27 September 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Opioid treatment group fronted by politicians keeps its funders secret". STAT News. 3 March 2017.
  4. "Advocacy". Advocates for Opioid Recovery. Accessed October 24, 2017.
  5. Rehkopf, Bill (27 February 2017). "It's time to 'Trump' opioid addiction in the United States". The Hill.
  6. Newt Gingrich, Patrick J. Kennedy and Van Jones. "Treat America's Opioid Epidemic With Medication". Time.