WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), a pharmacist by trade, today sent a letter to the Committee on House Administration, the Office of Attending Physician, and the Architect of the Capitol urging them to stock FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal agents, such as naloxone, in House of Representative Office Buildings near defibrillators.
This comes as the fentanyl crisis, which is killing nearly 200 people per day and is fueled by the Biden administration’s weak border control policies, threatens lives in every community, including children, law enforcement, and government officials.
In the letter, Carter writes: “In Washington, D.C., the fentanyl overdose death rate is 48.8 per 100,000 residents – one of the highest rates in the nation…As the synthetic opioid crisis continues to terrorize our country, there is no moral, medical, or safety-related reason for these life-saving overdose reversal agents to not be widely accessible for Members of Congress and staff.”
Carter continues: “If used quickly enough, opioid overdose reversal agents can reverse the effects of fentanyl poisoning and can be the difference between life or death. Studies show that increasing access to these treatments can reduce mortality rates in communities by up to 46 percent. With your support, we can demonstrate our commitment to addressing the fentanyl crisis that is plaguing our country and save lives by increasing ready access to overdose reversal agents.”
Rep. Carter’s letter models legislation he introduced earlier this year, the Saving Lives in Schools Act, requiring elementary and secondary schools to carry naloxone.
Last week, the Georgia Secretary of State sent naloxone to Fulton County election offices after law enforcement intercepted a fentanyl-laced letter targeting election workers in Georgia and other states, demonstrating yet another threat posed by this deadly drug.
Read the full letter here.
Read more about the Saving Lives in Schools Act here.
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