A Sustainable Solution to the Evolving Opioid Crisis: Revitalizing the Office of National Drug Control Policy

Subject

Date

May 17, 2018

Time

11:00 am

Place

2154 Rayburn HOB

Full Committee on Oversight and Accountability

PURPOSE:

To discuss policy proposals for reauthorizing the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as they play a critical role in coordinating the federal response to our nation’s opioid epidemic.
To discuss how evidence-based policymaking and information sharing can be used to identify and prevent emerging drug trends.

BACKGROUND:

Over the last 20 years, the national drug control budget for agencies has increased from roughly $18 billion to over $30 billion. Since a wide range of federal agencies and state grant recipients are receiving historic amounts of funding, the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis recommended ONDCP establish a system of tracking and accountability for increased federal funding.
Since 2010, annual funding for ONDCP’s operations has declined significantly from more than $27 million to less than $18 million this fiscal year. Meanwhile, our nation is witnessing a record number of fatal overdoses as 115 Americans die from opioids each day.
On May 9, 2018, the Committee hosted a roundtable discussion where ONDCP officials implored Members to reauthorize the office to empower ONDCP to more effectively coordinate the federal response to the opioid epidemic.
On April 11, 2018, the Subcommittee on Healthcare, Benefits, and Administrative Rules held a hearing to examine the local responses and resources to curtail the opioid crisis.
In March 2018, Committee staff held a roundtable discussion at a newly designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) district.
In March 2018, Committee staff traveled to China to investigate the trafficking of illicit fentanyl through the U.S. Postal Service.
On November 28, 2017, the Committee held a field hearing at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to discuss the findings and recommendations from the President’s Opioid Commission.
On July 26, 2017, the Committee held a hearing to examine options for reauthorizing ONDCP and to discuss ONDCP’s effort to coordinate drug control policy and spending across the federal government.