Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced two pieces of bipartisan legislation yesterday to help combat the opioid epidemic. The first bill, the Lessening Addiction By Enhancing Labeling (LABEL) Opioids Act, calls for labeling prescription opioid bottles with a consistent, clear, and concise warning that opioids may cause dependence, addiction, or overdose. The second piece of legislation, the Safe Prescribing of Controlled Substances Act, requires any prescriber of opioid medication to undergo mandatory education on safe prescribing practices. Specifically, it requires all prescribers that are applying for a federal license to prescribe controlled substances, such as prescription painkillers, complete mandatory education that will help encourage responsible prescribing practices.Specifically, the LABEL Opioids Act would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue regulations providing for a warning label to be affixed directly to the opioid prescription bottle handed to the patient by the pharmacist. The mandatory education required by the Safe Prescribing of Controlled Substances Act would focus on best practices for pain management and alternative non-opioid therapies for pain, methods for diagnosing and treating a substance use disorder, linking patients to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders, and tools to manage adherence and diversion of controlled substances, including Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs. The legislation also requires that the Department of Health and Human Services evaluate after how implementing this new education requirement impacts prescribing patterns.