Assemblyman Jim Wood supports solutions to tackling opiod abuse statewide

AB 1977 passed the Assembly Health Committee today paving the way for the creation of a statewide Opioid Abuse Task Force.  This privately funded task force will be comprised of representatives from health care service plans, patient advocates, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, pharmaceuticals and other stakeholders deemed appropriate.

Assemblyman Wood said, “The statistics surrounding opioid abuse in California are staggering, unfortunately there is no silver bullet solution.  This task force will convene experts, collect information, and I sincerely hope, will deliver us a pathway for tackling this crippling problem.”

From 1999-2013 the amount of painkillers prescribed and sold in the US has quadrupled, yet there has not been a measurable reduction in the amount of pain Americans report.  Abuse of opioid medications has rapidly increased in the past decade, currently the United Sates represents 5% of the world population, but we consume 80% of the opioids worldwide.

This crisis is particularly acute among youth and young adults.  Almost 1.5 million Californian’s ages 12 and over are estimated to have abused painkillers every year, and drug overdose is now the third leading cause of injury and premature death in Los Angeles County.

This outbreak has obvious and significant social costs, but the financial damage is equally catastrophic.  Prescription opioid abuse is estimated to cost the United States about $56 billion annually due to health costs, criminal justice costs, and lost productivity.

“This crisis did not happen overnight nor can it be traced to single contributing factor,” said Wood. “This is an issue that I started working on last year, and one that I am committed to attacking for as long as it takes.  The social, physical, and economic costs of doing nothing are far too high.  AB 1977 is the first step on a long road to recovery for Californians.”

AB 1977 will go straight to the Assembly Floor for a vote of the full Assembly.