Larsen Reintroduces Bill to Expand Lifesaving Opioid Harm Reduction
Washington, D.C.,
November 13, 2026
Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) reintroduced the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act to expand access to lifesaving, community-based harm reduction programs and services, and to strengthen the federal response to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic. “The opioid crisis has devastated families and communities in Northwest Washington, and while we have made progress reducing deaths and disrupting trafficking, there is more to be done. Congress must stay focused on solutions that meet people where they are, prevent overdoses and save lives,” said Rep. Larsen. “Too many people struggling with addiction want treatment but do not receive it. This bill helps to close that gap by giving local organizations the resources they need to help people who want to recover from substance use.” According to the 2024 National Drug Control Strategy, the vast majority of people who want substance use care do not receive it. The main reasons preventing people from getting the care they want are being unable to stop using and not knowing where to find programs that offer services they need. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies harm reduction as an approach that provides care that meets people where they are, is free of stigma and mitigates he harms of drug use. Lifesaving harm reduction options, such as naloxone (an overdose reversal medication) and fentanyl test strips, are vital resources for people at the highest risk of overdose or poor health outcomes. Despite the demand and effectiveness of harm reduction services, these resources remain substantially underfunded at the state and federal level. The Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act would provide community-based organizations with more resources to administer life-saving harm reduction programs and services to people struggling with substance use. The legislation would expand access to substance use care and help connect individuals to recovery support services. It would also provide funding to organizations to establish procedures and mechanisms for connecting individuals with evidence-based treatment and recovery support services. The full text of the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act is available here. A one-pager on the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act is available here. Broad Support from the Medical Community for Larsen’s Bill The Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act is supported by the American College of Physicians (ACP), American Nurses Association (ANA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), Washington State Hospital Association, University of Washington Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Overdose Prevention Initiative at GHAI, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC). “Substance use disorders are treatable chronic medical conditions that should be addressed through the expansion of evidence-based public and individual health initiatives to prevent, treat, and promote recovery, rather than relying on criminalization and incarceration,” said Jan K. Carney, MD, MPH, FRCP, president, American College of Physicians (ACP). “That is why the American College of Physicians supports legislation like the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, that would increase patient access to evidence-based treatment and supports. As physicians, we see patients every day experiencing significant health challenges due to substance use disorder. Expanded federal funding for harm reduction strategies, could greatly help to improve the health and safety of those patients.” “Nurses care for patients impacted by substance use disorders every day and see firsthand how essential harm reduction programs are—not only saving lives but creating pathways to treatment and recovery for those not yet ready to stop using,” said President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “The American Nurses Association (ANA) stands in support of the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act. This legislation supports and expands access to critical programs and services—ensuring nurses specializing in substance use disorder treatment can bridge the treatment gap and connect individuals battling substance use disorders to needed care, especially for those in rural and underserved communities. ANA commends Representatives Larsen for introducing this important bill and urges Congress to pass it swiftly.” “As we continue our work toward overcoming the opioid epidemic in our country, we must ensure communities have all the resources they need to support people who are impacted.” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “It's vital that communities have the resources to address behavioral health needs and turn the tide on our nation's opioid crisis. NAMI thanks Rep. Larsen for introducing the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, and we are proud to support this bill to help ensure communities have vital lifesaving harm reduction resources.” “The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), representing physicians practicing in every specialty and corner of the state, applauds Congressman Rick Larsen’s introduction of the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act,” said Matthew Hollon, MD, MPH, MACP, President, Washington State Medical Association. “The WSMA supports policies that facilitate and improve access to evidence-based harm reduction efforts. This measure will save lives by directly engaging with people who use drugs to prevent overdoses and infectious disease transmission while establishing connections for ongoing care and treatment.” “The Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act is a critical step towards ensuring that people struggling with substance use have access to the care and support they need,” said Cassie Sauer, CEO, Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA). “Harm reduction is a proven strategy to prevent overdoses and life-threatening infections from unclean needles. This bill will help patients across Washington access evidence-based treatment and recovery support services. The Washington State Hospital Association applauds Congressman Larsen’s leadership on this issue.” “The Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act will ensure the availability of federal funding for evidence-based and life-saving harm-reduction services and treatment programs. It is critical that this reauthorization will support community-led and grassroots harm-reduction agencies and organizations, who work on the frontlines of the overdose epidemic,” said Susan Collins, PhD, and Seema Clifasefi, PhD, LICSW, Co-Directors of the University of Washington Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center. “Funds will bolster services provided by state, Tribal, local and territorial governments to reduce substance-related harm and improve health and well-being for their citizens, families and communities. By investing in these essential harm-reduction services and more inclusive treatment approaches, this bill will better meet the needs of individuals and lift them up in their recovery journeys.” The Association of American Medical Colleges wrote a letter in support of the bill, which is available here. Larsen Focused on Combating Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis Rep. Larsen continues to focus on supporting local efforts to combat the opioid crisis and save lives. In 2024, he released a districtwide opioid report that outlines a four-pillar framework to combat the crisis. Rep. Larsen leads three additional bills aimed at combating the crisis:
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