Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Signed by President Obama

It's not every day that Congress comes together to deliver meaningful change, but I'm writing today to tell you that nurses scored a critical victory in Washington, DC last week.

Congress has passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at turning the tide on opioid addiction – and President Obama signed it into law.

Nurses like you took the time to share countless stories about your own experience caring for patients facing addiction. Your stories helped shape the debate and delivered meaningful progress. This is your victory.

Thanks to nurses and advocates across the country, this bill will bolster nurses' ability to help patients suffering with substance use disorders. It's a big first step, and a victory we can build on to make a bigger difference for patients facing addiction.

It's clear from the stories you've shared that this is an issue that matters deeply to our community. And because you shared hundreds and hundreds of those stories with policymakers, you made sure they got the message – loud, clear, and urgent.

Passing legislation in Washington, DC can sometimes feel like moving mountains. But, we were able to do the impossible by making real progress on such an important issue.

Links:

• President Obama's Press Release
• Senate Bill 524 Full Text

From the WSNA and the ANA.