Senate approves bipartisan bill bolstering anti-drug efforts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate paused Thursday from its nasty partisan clash over the Supreme Court vacancy and easily approved election-year legislation reinforcing government efforts against heroin and the abuse of opioid painkillers.

The bipartisan vote contrasted with the parties' rancorous divide over Republicans' refusal to consider anyone President Barack Obama picks to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the high court.

In a letter this month expressing support for the bill's grants, White House officials said that unless Congress provides extra money, the bill "would do little to address the epidemic" of drug abuse.

The bill includes money to train emergency workers to treat drug abusers, create treatment programs that would be alternatives to imprisonment and finance recovery programs at schools and non-profit groups.