U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Honorable Francis Collins M.D., Ph.D, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to encourage the agency to continue working to find solutions to the meth epidemic in Montana and the nation.
“In Montana we have a crisis wreaking havoc throughout the state: a methamphetamine epidemic. Meth is destroying families and communities, and disproportionately impacting Native American tribes,” the letter states. “As Montana and other parts of the country confront this crisis, I write to encourage the [NIH] to continue their diligent pursuit of a Medication Assisted Treatment to combat meth addiction.”
Currently, opioids, alcohol and other drugs have a Medication Assisted Treatment but meth does not. There are seven ongoing NIH funded trials for meth.
To read the full letter, click HERE.
Background:
Daines has been a leader in fighting the meth epidemic. Last month, Daines held a roundtable with members of Montana’s law enforcement community to hear their thoughts on next steps to combat Montana’s growing meth epidemic. One theme that was present was the importance of finding a viable MAT for Methamphetamine abuse.
Last month, Daines also wrote an op-ed on his bipartisan efforts to fight meth in our country and Montana.