Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2336
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-26T16:47:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss Act of 2025 aims to broaden the definition of opioid overdose reversal drugs in certain U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant programs. It ensures that these programs recognize not only naloxone (a common reversal drug) but also any other drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses, helping to address the opioid crisis more flexibly.
Key Provisions
- General Requirement: The HHS Secretary must update future regulations and guidance for grant programs related to opioid misuse and use disorders. Any mention of an opioid overdose reversal drug (e.g., naloxone) must include all drugs approved by the FDA under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for treating known or suspected opioid overdoses.
- Updates to Existing References: Within one year of the bill's enactment, HHS must revise all prior references to reversal drugs in specified grant programs to include any FDA-approved or authorized options.
- Affected Grant Programs:
- State Opioid Response Grants and Tribal Opioid Response Grants (under section 1003 of the 21st Century Cures Act).
- Grants for priority substance use disorder prevention needs of regional and national significance (under section 516 of the Public Health Service Act).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill modifies how HHS interprets and applies terms in existing grant programs by expanding "opioid overdose reversal agents" beyond naloxone to encompass any FDA-approved equivalents. Previously, references in these programs often specifically named naloxone, potentially limiting funding or support to programs using only that drug. The change promotes inclusivity without altering the core structure or funding levels of the grants.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will need to review and update regulations and guidance, which may require administrative resources but could streamline grant administration by allowing more treatment options.
- On Citizens: Individuals affected by the opioid crisis, including those at risk of overdose, may gain better access to a wider range of reversal drugs, potentially improving emergency response and reducing overdose deaths.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic HHS programs and FDA approvals.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- HHS and FDA: Responsible for implementation, updates, and approvals of reversal drugs.
- States and Tribes: Recipients of opioid response grants, who can now incorporate diverse reversal drugs into their programs.
- Healthcare Providers and Organizations: Non-profits, clinics, and substance use disorder programs funded through these grants, benefiting from expanded options for overdose treatment.
- People with Opioid Use Disorders: End-users who may experience more effective or accessible emergency interventions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill reinforces FDA's authority in drug approvals while mandating HHS to align grant language with it, ensuring compliance with federal drug safety standards without creating new regulatory burdens.
- Constitutional: No significant issues, as it operates within Congress's powers to regulate public health and interstate commerce.
- Political: Supports bipartisan efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by promoting innovation in treatments, potentially encouraging pharmaceutical development of new reversal drugs while avoiding favoritism toward specific products like naloxone.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (3 pages)