U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren this week pressed the National Institutes of Health for details on opioid research programs and treatment efforts that have stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Massachusetts Democrats, in a letter to NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins, said that several behavioral health and addiction treatment studies are reportedly on hold at a time when overdoses are rising and the country faces public health and economic crises exacerbating the struggles of those grappling with substance use disorder. 

"In light of the growing number of opioid overdoses and deaths, it is crucial this research be completed in a timely manner so that those struggling with opioid use disorder may receive the high-quality, evidence-based treatment they need,” Markey and Warren wrote.