Duval Times

During National Fentanyl Awareness Week, Senator Rick Scott has reintroduced the Overdose Response Action Data And Reforms (RADAR) Act. The legislation aims to address the overdose epidemic by elevating the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to a Cabinet-level position. It also seeks to improve data collection and prevention efforts, expand treatment options, and raise awareness about the opioid and fentanyl crisis affecting communities across the United States.

Senator Scott, who chairs the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, is leading a hearing on the opioid epidemic. The hearing will explore actions that public and private partners can take to mitigate this health crisis.

"Over the last decade, we have lost hundreds of thousands of American lives to drug overdoses - More than 70,000 per year," said Senator Rick Scott. "It’s happening in every community, across every state and not just to younger individuals. Every one of these lives represents a mom, a dad, friend, loved one or sibling who left behind a heartbroken family." He added that he stands with families impacted by fentanyl during Fentanyl Awareness Week and is fighting for changes to save lives through his proposal.

The Overdose RADAR Act proposes several measures:

- Grant funding for emergency treatment and national standards for overdose data submission.

- Reforming the role of Director of ONDCP as a Cabinet-level position.

- Ensuring best practices for using State Opioid Response Grants are shared.

- A pilot program for wastewater analysis to detect illicit substances like fentanyl.

- Access for schools to funds for training personnel in administering emergency treatments such as naloxone.

- Adding fentanyl test strips to excluded materials in drug paraphernalia under the Controlled Substances Act.