ATLANTA (January 29, 2018) | Today, Sen. Renee Unterman (R – Buford) along with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Senator Dean Burke (R – Bainbridge) and members of Georgia’s Health Care Reform Task Force held a press conference to introduce Senate Bill 352.
“This holistic approach will turn the tide in Georgia’s fight against substance abuse and addiction,” said Lt. Governor Cagle. “By improving education, treatment, and recovery, we can save countless lives and defeat the opioid epidemic.”
“Senate Bill 352 is not my legislation, it is not my colleague’s legislation, this is for the thousands of people who have reached out about the opioid addiction crisis in our state to let us know what they need and what the State of Georgia needs,” said Senator Unterman. “Although we have worked hard in the past to address those issues, this legislation takes our efforts significantly further.”
Senate Bill 352 will combat the addiction crisis in Georgia by focusing on education, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Under SB 352, Georgia will use a multifaceted strategy to reach Georgians of all ages and in every corner of our state. First, the legislation establishes a state-wide education strategy to provide our K-12 students the resources to reject substance abuse and the threat of addiction. SB 352 also creates a partnership with providers and communities across Georgia to expand access to proven treatments for opioid addiction, ensuring that all Georgians can seek help regardless of where they call home. Finally, this bill introduces a series of patient-centered insurance reforms to protect individuals undertaking the road to recovery.
“I am beyond excited about the progress that Georgia is making with the Opioid/Heroin Planning Committee and the proposal to establish the Commission on Substance Abuse and Recovery,” said Missy Owen, Co-Founder and CEO of the Davis Direction Foundation and THE ZONE. “Through visits to THE ZONE, Lt. Governor Cagle, Senator Burke, and Senator Unterman understand how important this work is and how much it impacts the people who come to us for resources and support.”
“Phoebe Putney Health System is deeply appreciative of the leadership addressing the opioid addiction crisis in our state and the work that has been put in to understand the problem, educate our citizens, and to seek creative and effective solutions,” added Joel Wernick, CEO of Phoebe Putney Health System. “We believe that Senate Bill 352 is an important part of true statewide infrastructure to combat the epidemic on every front.”
For the full text of SB 352 please follow the link below:
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20172018/171546.pdf
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For Immediate Release:
January 29, 2018
Ines Owens, Director
ines.owens@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028