Shutdown Has Slowed Implementation of Federal Opioid Legislation

President Donald Trump on Friday announced a short-term deal to reopen portions of the federal government affected by the shutdown. Impacts of the stoppage, which began Dec. 22, have been felt in myriad sectors, including behavioral healthcare and addiction treatment. The shutdown hasn’t completely stalled the field’s efforts to curb the opioid epidemic, says Andrew Kessler, founder and principal of Slingshot Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in behavioral health policy, but it has forced those in the industry to “worry about things we weren’t worrying about last year.” “Even just a few months ago, we said, ‘Let’s implement these new programs and get it rolling,’ ” Kessler tells Behavioral Healthcare Executive. “Now, we have to stop because we’re worried about programs funded by agencies and departments impacted by the shutdown. Time is a valuable resource, and if we have to spend our time trying to keep track of what’s not being funded, that’s time being taken away from pushing for advances and new things we thought we would be able to do.” What has been impacted H.R. 6, the sweeping opioid bill signed in October by Trump, provided numerous tools for federal departments and agencies to address the opioid crisis. Implementation of many of those mechanisms, however, has been put on hold during the shutdown for the past month. Among the agencies that have been impacted: Federal Trade Commission – Oversight of unfair or deceptive acts or practices with respect to substance use disorder treatment service and products Food and Drug Administration – Requirement to hold public meetings to address challenges and barriers of developing non-addictive medical products intended to treat acute or chronic pain or addiction Department of Justice – Authority over the development for new programs for safe drug disposal Department of Homeland Security – Oversight in the reduction of the importation of fentanyl through upgraded screening procedures for mail and packages In addition, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s ability to distribute grants for the construction of recovery housing and a public awareness campaign about the potentially addictive nature of opioids and prescription medications, being developed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, were put on hold by the shutdown. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s role in the waiver process for physicians who wish to prescribe Suboxone also came into question this past week, although DEA told NPR the portion of the government that approves such permits and waivers remained open, thereby not impacting physicians’ ability to prescribe Suboxone. Additional concerns Aside from policies that could not be implemented during the shutdown, Kessler laments the strain it has placed on impacted federal employees, particularly those in recovery. “If we’re talking about 800,000 employees not getting a paycheck, simple math tells us many of them are probably in recovery,” Kessler says. “When you’re not getting a paycheck, you start to feel stress and pressure. All of these very bad scenarios start to play out in your head. That’s not good for recovery. That’s not good for your mental health. It’s not good for any part of your health. Recovery is part of health.”