Congressman McDowell Joins Rep. Gabe Amo in Introducing the Bipartisan HOPE Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Addison McDowell(NC-06) joined Representative Gabe Amo(RI-01) in introducing the Having Overdose Protection Equipment (HOPE) Act, bipartisan legislation to expand access to life-saving opioid overdose prevention medications in communities across the country.

The HOPE Act clarifies that State Opioid Response (SOR) grants can be used to acquire, maintain, and distribute public access opioid overdose reversal kits. This will ensure that naloxone and other proven medications are readily available in places where overdoses are most likely to occur.

"Naloxone is one of our strongest tools in saving lives in our fight against fentanyl, with more than 90 percent of people surviving after it's administered," said Congressman McDowell. "Expanding access to naloxone will save lives in North Carolina and across the country. Even as we work to stop the flow of deadly drugs over our borders, we must also make sure families and communities have access to this life-saving treatment."

"Empty spots at the dinner table, parents missing milestones, names not read at graduation. That's the cost of the opioid crisis paid by far, far too many American families and communities," said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). "Making naloxone more accessible will save countless lives and I'm proud to introduce the HOPE Act with Congressman McDowell to improve access to this critical medication."

This bill would support the Office of National Drug Control Policy's workby ensuring SOR funds can be used to acquire and distribute public access opioid overdose reversal kits, supporting efforts to ensure the medication is available in all public spaces.

Expanding naloxone access in high-risk areas is crucial to reducing opioid fatalities. Installing publicly accessible naloxone housing units (or "naloxone boxes"), similar to AEDs, is an effective way to provide accessible opioid overdose reversal kits in high-traffic areas.

These units enable bystanders to provide immediate assistance to individuals experiencing an overdose before first responders arrive, offering low-barrier, low-stigma access for those who may be unable to obtain naloxone from pharmacies or harm reduction programs. The "boxes" typically contain opioid overdose reversal medication, usage instructions, and sometimes other rescue supplies like CPR shields.

The HOPE Act is endorsed by The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), Addiction Professionals of North Carolina, Drug Policy Alliance, Fentanyl Fathers, Fentanyl Victims Network, FFF Enterprises, HarborPath, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Overdose Prevention Initiative, Rhode Island NAMI, Race Against Drugs, and CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, Jim Carroll (Former Director of National Drug Control Policy).

National and community leaders underscored the importance of this bipartisan effort:

"The Addiction Professionals of North Carolina proudly endorses this legislation," said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO, Addiction Professionals of North Carolina. "As professionals who are committed to assisting those with opioid use disorders, we believe this legislation is an important step to ensure that people - and especially our youth - have access to life-saving equipment in as many settings as possible. If our workforce is to succeed in its fight against substance use, we will need every tool available to us, including increased access to Naloxone and Naloxone training. We look forward to collaborating with Rep. McDowell to pass not only this legislation, but also more bills in the future that will make North Carolina and the rest of our country safer and healthier."

Jim Carroll (Former Director of National Drug Control Policy:

"Congressman McDowell and Congressman Abo are rising above political differences to unite in a common cause of saving lives," said Jim Carroll, Former Director of National Drug Control Policy. "As the former Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy ("U.S. Drug Czar), I applaud their efforts to make the HOPE Act a bipartisan solution."

Read the full bill text here.