For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

P.A.A.R.I. Attends Signing of 21st Century Cures Act at White House

WASHINGTON and GLOUCESTER — Allie Hunter McDade, Executive Director of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), is pleased to announce that P.A.A.R.I. Co-founder and Chairman John Rosenthal attended the signing of the 21st Century Cures Act in Washington, D.C. today after being invited by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

The bill, which Congress passed last week, will allocate more than $6 billion to address public health challenges like cancer research, mental health treatment and the country’s opioid epidemic.

Specifically, it will fund $1 billion worth of initiatives over two years, including $500 million in fiscal year 2017, to combat the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. The resources included in the bill will allow states to expand access to treatment to assist individuals looking to recover from the disease of addiction.

The legislation also includes substance use disorder parity provisions that build on the work of the President’s Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force, mental health reforms, such as a renewed emphasis on evidence-based strategies for treating serious mental illness, improved coordination between primary care and behavioral health services and re-authorization of programs focused on suicide prevention.

On July 6, Rosenthal, along with 50 P.A.A.R.I. partner Police Chiefs from across the United States were invited to the White House to meet with President Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy, to discuss law enforcement’s role in increasing access to treatment, as well as to advocate with Congress for the need to support President Obama’s call for $1 billion to fund treatment.

Following the meeting, Rosenthal and the chiefs held a press conference on the White House lawn calling on Congress to approve President Obama’s funding request for $1 billion to increase treatment and recovery services for Americans suffering from opioid addiction.

“It’s been an honor to work closely with President Obama and his senior staff, who recognize the unique and game-changing involvement of law enforcement in the fight against opioid addiction. I am extremely grateful to have been invited to the White House bill signing today, and am proud to have represented P.A.A.R.I., along with our more than 200 police department partners who helped enact this historic legislation that will provide critical funding to expand access to treatment and address our nation’s opioid epidemic,” Rosenthal said. “We’re extremely pleased that Congress and President Obama have committed over $1 billion to fund addiction recovery initiatives and services. It is a great step forward in assisting those struggling with the disease of addiction to get the help they need for long-term recovery.”

About the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.):
P.A.A.R.I. police departments share a common mission: encourage opioid drug users to seek recovery, help distribute life saving opioid blocking drugs to prevent and treat overdoses, connect those struggling with the disease of addiction with treatment programs and facilities and provide resources to other police departments and communities that want to do more to fight the opioid epidemic.

P.A.A.R.I. is an independent nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement agencies in setting up, communicating and running their own addiction and recovery programs. The police departments, sheriffs offices, and prosecutors who have partnered with P.A.A.R.I. interact directly with members of the public and those seeking treatment, recovery, and resources. Learn more at paariusa.org.

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