News from NASADAD
- NASADAD updates opioids fact sheet
- NASADAD updates DOJ priority programs fact sheet
- NASADAD attends Washington Post event on criminal justice
News from the States
- New York releases new tool tracking substance use disorder treatment bed availability in real time
Around the Agencies
- FDA officials call for review of agency opioid policies
- SAMHSA releases new resource for understanding mental health and substance use disorder benefits
- SAMHSA announces FY 2016 Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success grant program
- NIDA releases Strategic Plan for 2016-2020
In the News
- AHA names Wayne Young as chair of 2016 Constituency Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services
- National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws updates reports on marijuana legislation
News from NASADAD
NASADAD updates opioids fact sheet
NASADAD released an updated version of its opioids fact sheet last week. The fact sheet describes the latest statistics surrounding the ongoing opioid crisis, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive federal and State response in reducing the number of deaths resulting from overdoses. Best treatment practices and important federal programs addressing opioid use disorders are also discussed in the fact sheet.
Read the fact sheet here.
NASADAD updates DOJ priority programs fact sheet
NASADAD released an updated version of its Department of Justice (DOJ) priority programs fact sheet last week. The fact sheet describes the important programs dealing with substance use disorders within the DOJ, including the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, the Second Chance Act, and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program, among several others. The funding histories and websites of each respective programs are also provided.
Read the fact sheet here.
NASADAD attends Washington Post event on criminal justice reform
Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern, attended a Washington Post event on criminal justice reform last week. During the event, titled “Out of Jail, Into Society,” speakers emphasized the importance of revising mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines and improving reentry programs in boosting the outcomes of incarcerated individuals once they exit the criminal justice system. Members of both parties asserted that criminal justice reform is a bipartisan issue, and can be addressed at the federal level through legislation such as the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S. 123). Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, spoke extensively on breaking the school to prison pipeline and improving early childhood education as a method for reducing the number of individuals incarcerated within the United States.
Speakers:
- Holly Harris; Executive Director, U.S. Justice Action Network
- Valerie Jarrett; Senior Advisor to the President
- Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)
- Secretary of Corrections John E. Wetzel, Pennsylvania
- Glenn E. Martin; Founder and President, JustLeadershipUSA
- Teresa Hodge; Co-founder, Mission: Launch, Inc.
- Bernard B. Kerik; Founder, ACCJR.org; Former NYC Police and Correction Commissioner
News from the States
New York releases new tool tracking substance use disorder treatment bed availability in real time
New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, of which NASADAD member Arlene González-Sánchez is Commissioner, has released a new web-based tool for tracking substance use disorder treatment bed availability. The Bed Availability Dashboard collects data on bed availability from State-certified substance use disorder providers in real time before making the information available on the web application. The tool allows users to search for beds by region, age, and gender. Commissioner González-Sánchez states that, “connecting New Yorkers to addiction services is one of our top priorities. I encourage all New Yorkers in need of help to take advantage of this valuable resource to begin the journey towards recovery. Treatment is available and recovery is possible.” The Bed Availability Dashboard is the latest in a series of policies addressing substance use disorders in New York State.
Access the new tool here.
Around the Agencies
FDA officials call for review of agency opioid policies
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, Dr. Robert Califf, and other FDA officials called for a reassessment of FDA opioid policies regarding opioid mediations last week. The agency’s plan includes a re-examination of the risk-benefit policies guiding opioid prescriptions, a convening of experts before approving new opioid medications, development of new prescription opioid labels, and the expansion of access to naloxone and medication-assisted treatment drugs. The FDA plans to work with other stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive overview is completed.
Read the full press release here.
SAMHSA releases new resource for understanding mental health and substance use disorder benefits
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a new resource to help consumers better understand mental health and substance use disorder benefits last week. The pamphlet, titled “Parity of Mental Health and Substance Use Benefits with Other Benefits” examines the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the standards it created. The resource discusses why mental health and substance use disorder benefit claims may be denied, and how to effectively file an appeal if necessary.
Download the resource here.
SAMHSA announces FY 2016 Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success grant program
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for the FY 2016 Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success Grant program. The program intends to address underage drinking among persons aged 12 to 20 and prescription drug misuse among persons aged 12 to 25. SAMHSA is offering up to three grant awards ranging from $318,543 to $1,230,000 per year for up to five years.
Read more about this grant program here.
NIDA releases Strategic Plan for 2016-2020
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan for advancing addiction science last week. The plan outlines the steps NIDA will take to utilize the latest technologies for the improvement of substance use disorder treatment outcomes. Four goals are identified within the plan: identifying the biological and behavioral causes and consequences of drug use and substance use disorders, developing new strategies for drug use prevention, developing new treatments (including medications, therapies, vaccines, and manipulation of brain activity), and increasing the reach of NIDA research and programs.
Access the strategic plan here.
In the News
AHA names Wayne Young as chair of 2016 Constituency Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has announced that Wayne Young will serve as the organization’s Constituency Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services chair for 2016. Mr. Young currently serves as a Senior Vice President for Behavioral Health within the JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas. As an AHA chair, Mr. Young will work with a 17-person governing council to identify ways to best utilize AHA resources to improve the quality, efficiency, and delivery of psychiatric and substance use disorder services.
Read the full press release here.
National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws updates reports on marijuana legislation
The National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws (NAMSDL) has updated its series of reports on medicinal, legal, and illegal marijuana legislation for 2016. The reports summarize ongoing and future efforts to regulate both the medical marijuana and legal marijuana industries at the State level. Two new reports are now available: one detailing legislation on the personal non-medical use of marijuana, and another summarizing legislation on medical marijuana use.
Read the non-medical use report here.
Read the medical marijuana report here.
Should you have any questions, or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Morrison, Executive Director, (202) 293-0090 or Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman, Public Policy Associate, at (202) 293-0090.