Bill > HR4969

This bill, known as the John Thomas Decker Act of 2016, requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess and then provide information to prevent opioid addiction among teenagers and adolescents injured while playing youth sports. Specifically, HHS must first determine how widely available information is regarding opioid prescriptions after youth sports injuries, including details on opioid use and misuse, alternative pain treatments that don't involve opioids, and addiction treatment options. This assessment needs to consider the availability of such information to young athletes, their families, youth sports organizations, and healthcare providers. Following this report, and taking its findings into account, HHS will then develop and distribute educational materials to these groups to help prevent addiction. Opioids are a class of drugs, like heroin and certain pain relievers, that have effects similar to opium.