Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA, 2016)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 114–198)

2) Why It Was Done
CARA was enacted to combat the opioid epidemic by authorizing a comprehensive response including prevention, treatment, recovery, law enforcement, and criminal justice reform.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Controlled Substances Act (1970) and later drug laws focused on enforcement. CARA shifted federal policy toward integrating treatment and recovery support into the response.

SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (2018)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 115–271)

2) Why It Was Done
The SUPPORT Act was passed to build on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA, 2016) and provide a more robust federal response to the opioid crisis, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and Medicaid reforms.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The CSA and CARA provided a mix of enforcement and treatment policies. SUPPORT expanded CARA with a stronger public health approach and added Medicaid and Medicare reforms.

Harrington v. Purdue Pharma (2024)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy to resolve thousands of lawsuits over its role in the opioid epidemic. The plan released members of the Sackler family (who owned Purdue but were not themselves debtors) from liability in exchange for a multibillion-dollar contribution. The Supreme Court ruled that the Bankruptcy Code does not authorize non-consensual third-party releases like the one shielding the Sacklers.