A look at how the U.S. government and Congress are responding to the opioid epidemic. Senior elected officials will discuss what proposals are on the table and talk about the prospects for bipartisan action on Capitol Hill and in the states.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Chairman, House Energy and Commerce Committee

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Chief Deputy Whip, House Democratic Caucus

Moderated by Mike DeBonis, Congressional Reporter, The Washington Post

An in-depth medical exploration of this public health crisis. Experts will discuss how doctors and prescription providers are looking at new approaches to prevent, treat, and break patterns of addiction in communities

across the country.

Dr. Leana Wen, Health Commissioner, Baltimore City

Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Co-Director of Opioid Policy Research, The Heller School for Social Policy And Management, Brandeis University

Moderated by Lenny Bernstein, Health and Medicine Reporter, The Washington Post

A discussion about medication assisted treatment strategies aimed at reducing the number of people developing addiction problems and treating those who become addicted.

Joe Berger, Vice President and General Manager, Health and Consumer Solutions, Battelle

Dr. Wilson Compton, Deputy Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

A closer look at the challenges of addressing prescription drug abuse, including the development of abuse-deterrent formulations of opioid medications, non-opioid pain relief alternatives, and drugs that reverse the effects of overdoses.

Anne Pritchett, Vice President, Research and Policy, PhRMA

Interviewed by Lenny Bernstein, Health and Medicine Reporter, The Washington Post

Former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy left behind a career in politics to focus on tackling addiction and mental health issues. Kennedy joins us to share his personal journey to sobriety and his latest efforts to combat the opioid crisis in America.

Patrick J. Kennedy, Member, White House Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis; Former Member, U.S. House of Representatives (D-R.I.)

Interviewed by Mary Jordan, National Correspondent, The Washington Post