Congress reaches final deal on opioid package. Congressional leaders have finalized a deal on a wide-ranging bill to help reduce addictions and deaths from opioids. The bill, which spans 660 pages, was announced late Tuesday evening and marks a significant bipartisan victory ahead of the midterm elections. The death toll from opioids reached 40,000 people in 2017, and the legislation changes regulations, gives more tools to medical research entities and law enforcement, and uses funding from various spending bills advanced earlier this year. Congressional leaders did not release a timeline for a vote, but said they expected the deal to pass "swiftly" and head to President Trump's desk.