Letter to Delegate

September 30, 2018

Congressman Dave Brat

Virginia – District 7

1628 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515-4607

Dear Congressman Brat,

My name is Marylou Bryan. I am a Registered Nurse (RN) working on a detox unit in Culpeper, Virginia. I am writing to request your support for H.R. 3692: Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act. This legislation will assist our community in reducing the mortality rate due to Fentanyl and Heroin overdoses. According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Culpeper County’s mortality rate due to Fentanyl and Heroin overdose during 2017 was 28%, which is 17% over the state average for the same year.

I’m advocating for the amendments to the Controlled Substances Act as they will provide additional flexibility and accessibility to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid use disorders. More individuals in your jurisdiction would have the opportunity to benefit from MAT by allowing physicians and advanced practice nurses (APRN) to treat additional patients as a direct result of this amendment. Increasing the number of patients being treated from 30 to 100, and 275 if the practitioner meets set requirement by Federal regulations, would more the triple the advantages of MAT for this community.

MAT meets the highest standard of clinical evidence for safety and efficacy in the care of those suffering with a substance abuse disorder. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports MAT is proven to be clinically effective reducing the need for inpatient detoxification services. The availability of MAT to more individuals greatly improves the likely hood of successful recovery.

Opioid addition is a physical and mental health disorder, not a criminal choice. In addition, SAMHSA’s MAT report states a decrease of illicit opiate use can reduce overall criminal activity among individuals with substance use disorders. By increasing the availability to MAT through physicians and APRNs ultimately reduces cost to the criminal justice system improving the overall quality of life for all citizens.

For these reasons I ask you to support the H.R. 3692: Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act to improve the provision of health care to the citizens of Virginia and Culpeper County. Please contact me with any additional questions or concerns you may have.

Respectfully Yours,

Marylou Bryan, RN

15511 Guinn Lane, Culpeper, Va. 22701

References

Goozner, M. (2017). A false start in the fight against opioid addiction. Modern Healthcare. Chicago. (Vol. 47, Iss. 21) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.odu.edu/docview/1902172890?accountid=12967&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo

Virginia Department of Health (VDH). (2017) Virginia opioid addiction indicators: Community service boards. Retrieved from http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/data/opioid-overdose/

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). (2018). Programs and campaigns. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Rockville, Maryland. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment