U.S. House Passes Opioid Abuse Legislation

Legislation aimed at encouraging police departments to help heroin addicts seek treatment instead of jail has passed the U.S. House.

The legislation was supported by Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and inspired by a program pioneered by the Gloucester Police Department. The program connects addicts to treatment programs instead of arresting them if they commit to getting clean.

The legislation is among several bills aimed at combating opioid addiction and sponsored by members of the state's Democratic congressional delegation that passed the House this week.

Two bills pushed by Rep. Katherine Clark also passed, including one designed to reduce the amount of unused pain medications fueling the opioid epidemic.

Rep. Joe Kennedy says he supports the push to fight opioid abuse, but worries that Republicans were blocking additional funding for the programs.

President  Obama, in his weekly Saturday address, says legislation passed in the House doesn't go far enough. The President says that unless Congress makes more investments in drug treatment, the legislation won't get Americans the help they need. (Associated Press)