Shaheen, Crapo Introduce New Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Barriers to Life-Saving Overdose Reversal Treatments for Veterans
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced new bipartisan legislation to help battle the ongoing substance use disorder crisis among our nation’s veterans by removing barriers to life-saving overdose reversal agents. Substance use continues to be prevalent among veterans with 2.8 million, or 14% of all U.S. veterans, reporting having at least one substance use disorder in 2022. The bipartisan End Veterans Overdose Act would help save lives by making naloxone and any other relevant overdose reversal agents available without a prescription to veterans and their caregivers at Veterans Affairs (VA) pharmacies.
“It is our duty to look out for those who bravely served our nation, and while we've made great strides towards ending the substance use epidemic, far too many veterans are still losing their lives due to overdoses. That is unacceptable, and it's imperative that we explore every avenue to make life-saving treatments more accessible at the VA,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud that this bipartisan bill would fill a critical gap in the care that VA facilities can provide to veterans by making it easier for them and their caregivers to get treatments that rapidly reverse overdoses, like naloxone, at no cost.”
“Our obligation to veterans does not end when their service does,” said Crapo. “Expanding direct access to naloxone at VA pharmacies recognizes the unique risks veterans face and ensures life-saving medication is available when it matters most.”
Currently, VA pharmacies provide naloxone to veterans at no-cost, but they must first ask a provider for a prescription. The End Veterans Overdose Act would allow not only veterans, but also their caregivers to obtain naloxone without first having to get a prescription from a provider. The legislation has been endorsed by the American Legion.
A copy of the bill text can be found HERE.
Senator Shaheen has led efforts to fight the substance use disorder epidemic and increase access to life-saving treatments. Shaheen annually leads a bipartisan resolution with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to recognize National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. In the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that was signed into law, Shaheen secured provisions that will ensure veterans can better access health care, including substance use disorder treatment. Shaheen also leads the bipartisan Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act to require social media companies to work with federal agencies to combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs on their platforms and the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act with Senator Grassley that would establish a new grant program that allows current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to provide resources educating students about the dangers of synthetic opioids.
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