“I have made it a top priority during my time as attorney general to hold those responsible for creating, prolonging, and profiting off the opioid crisis accountable,” Herring said. “This crisis has turned lives upside-down and devastated families and communities in every corner of our Commonwealth.
“This authority will ensure that, should I be successful in taking on these companies, a majority of the funds go towards addressing the crisis, expanding treatment and recovery, and saving Virginians. I want to thank Majority Leader Herring, Senator Barker, and the many advocates who worked with us to strengthen and pass this important legislation.”
Currently, federal statute prohibits any form of federal health coverage for incarcerated individuals except under very limited circumstances. In most states, Medicaid coverage is immediately terminated when someone is sent to a correctional setting. This creates a serious coverage gap when individuals are released, as they often have no access to health care or addiction treatment during a stressful and dangerous time. This bill is a bipartisan response to this issue, following alarming evidence published in the New England Journal of Medicine that individuals reentering society are
129 times likelier than the general population to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release.
Bill to reduce felony drug possession charges dies in subcommittee General Assembly Building (FILE) (Source: WVIR) By Hyung Jun Lee | February 5, 2021 at 5:04 PM EST - Updated February 5 at 9:58 PM
RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia lawmakers hoped to advance a bill that would eliminate felony drug possession charges and shift a focus to treatment, not punishment, of substance abuse. The measure had bipartisan support and backing from many commonwealth attorneys’ and lawyers around the state, but it died in a House subcommittee.
Anyone found in possession of controlled substances would face misdemeanor charges under House Bill 2303 introduced by Delegate Sally Hudson (D-Charlottesville). The bill would also amend the conditions set for probation under the current first offender statute, which allows drug possession charges to be dismissed if certain conditions are met.
Recovery advocates and state lawmakers awaiting millions in settlement dollars from opioid manufacturers and distributors over the next two decades want to put that money to work fighting addiction.