IU McKinney professor to testify before Senate on opioid crisis

An Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law professor is headed to Washington, D.C., to testify before the U.S. Senate about his work combatting the ongoing opioid crisis.

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly announced Tuesday that IU McKinney professor Nicolas P. Terry will testify before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Terry’s testimony will address opioid misuse among older Americans. He also will share his research into the epidemic as part of Indiana University’s Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenges initiative.

Grand Challenges is a 16-project program aimed at preventing, reducing and treating addictions throughout the Hoosier state. Terry and fellow professor Ross Silverman are working in conjunction to study how the law, particularly health law, can be both a help and hindrance to developing effective strategies to combat addiction.

“The opioid addictions crisis is a wicked problem that affects people of all ages across the United States,” Terry said in a statement. “Through our Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenges program, Indiana University is committed to creating actionable, collaborative solutions to this crisis in partnership with those who have shown such commitment to this issue.”

“Looking at the opioids crisis through an aging lens emphasizes our findings that we need workable care coordination and wrap-around services to make measurable improvements in people’s lives,” Terry continued.

Donnelly helped facilitate Terry’s testimony after IU released a new policy report based on initial Grand Challenges research, which was briefed on Capitol Hill in March.

“I believe it will take all of us continuing to work together to effectively confront the opioid crisis, and I look forward to Professor Terry’s testimony and Indiana University’s continued partnership in this effort,” Donnelly said in a statement.