The U.S. Senate passed a measure in overwhelming fashion Thursday to fight the heroin and opioid epidemic. The vote for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act was 94-1.

The bill, strongly supported by West Virginia Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., would provide money to train first responders to treat people who have overdosed, create treatment programs for addicts instead of sending them to prison, and help veterans and pregnant women who are addicted.

Manchin and Capito have pushed for passage of the bill because West Virginia is one of the top five states in the nation with the highest rate of drug overdose deaths. And the problem continues to grow.

Manchin said the Mountain State’s opioid epidemic has grown 700 percent since 1999, and in 2015 alone, there were 600 deaths related to heroin and opiates.

The bipartisan passage of the bill is encouraging. Anytime the two parties get together and actually pass something of such import is a good thing.

There was some argument over the bill. Democrats wanted to add $600 million to the measure, but that amendment was voted down. The Congressional Budget Office reports that the bill would create programs costing $725 million over the next five years.

The White House said that without more money, the bill “would do little to address the epidemic.”

Senate leaders said there could be more money added as the budget process goes forward.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, and Senate leaders are pressing for quick action.

“I hope that they don’t stall it and fiddle around with it,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. “If the House does not act, then the Senate’s work is a sham, and that would be a shame.”

While the price tag on this bill is modest, we hope that it passes and the president signs it into law. It would be a good first step toward stemming the tide of addiction that has wracked our state and much of the nation.

Manchin has pointed out that this bill should be only a part of the war on opiates. He wants the Food and Drug Administration to be held accountable for the epidemic and wants the agency to closely review the dangers of opiates.

He also wants training for health care providers, who he claims provide too many dangerous prescription drugs.

We’re glad to see Congress stepping in and working to do something about this crisis. Passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act would be a positive move, but it should be only the first assault on this deadly foe.