NASADAD is pleased to announce the release of a new resource, “An Overview of the Synar Provision: History, Impact of Tobacco 21 Legislation, and Recommendations.”  This document offers background on Synar; a description of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) role in tobacco control; a review of the federal legislation that raised the minimum age of legal tobacco access to 21; the impact of the legislation on Synar; and implementation efforts in 2020, including those related to COVID-19.

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc. (NASADAD) Annual Meeting bring together SAMHSA leadership, Single State Agency Directors for alcohol and drug services, state Prevention Coordinators, Treatment Coordinators, Women’s Services Coordinators, State Opioid Treatment Authorities, and other state and national stakeholders that address substance use, misuse, and use disorders.  The meeting is a forum to hear about the latest substance use trends and practices; to engage in interactive discussions on emerging issues; and to share information on model programs and strategies used across the prevention, treatment, and recovery system.

Due to health and safety concerns and the uncertainty of COVID-19, the Annual Meeting will be held virtually this year, June 7, 9-11, 2021.

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NASADAD, with funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Family Foundation, developed Reaching Youth At Risk for Substance Use and Misuse: Early Intervention Resources and Practices to assist Single State Agencies for alcohol and drug services and their partners in enhancing and implementing early intervention services for adolescents and transitional-aged youth. To accompany this comprehensive resource guide, NASADAD held a training on early intervention services on February 25, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EST.

The training agenda can be found here, along with speaker biographies here.

The slides for the training can be found here and the recording can be accessed here.

NASADAD is pleased to announce the release of an updated Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant fact sheet. This updated version of the fact sheet includes the following:

• An overview of the SAPT Block Grant
• Positive outcomes of the Block Grant (i.e., abstinence from alcohol/drug use, stable housing, no arrests)
• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SUDs
• Review of the latest COVID-19 relief package, which included $1.65 billion in supplemental funding for the SAPT Block Grant
• A description of why multi-year investments in the SAPT Block Grant is beneficial to States, providers, and individuals with SUDs
• Recent data on the financial burden of SUDs and cost-effectiveness of investing in the SAPT Block Grant
• A description of the prevention set-aside
• Overview of the Block Grant’s role in bolstering recovery support services
• Description of the role of the State Alcohol & Drug Agency

 

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed a final FY 2021 appropriations deal. This document outlines the final funding levels for NASADAD’s priority programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), including language from the Administration’s Congressional Justifications, as well as the House and Senate Appropriations Committees’ bill reports and final appropriations bill reports.

With increased attention on substance use during disasters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NASADAD staff have revised an issue brief on the topic. The Disasters and Substance Use: Implications for the Response to COVID-19 brief includes data on recent disasters, policy recommendations, and spotlights on Louisiana and New York’s response to Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. NASADAD recommended the following:

• During a disaster, the federal government should coordinate with State alcohol and drug agencies given the link between trauma and substance use disorders.
• Policymakers should consider specifically referencing substance use disorders in the statute governing disaster declarations (Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act) to ensure a holistic and comprehensive response.
• Supplemental federal funding designed to help respond to substance use disorder needs during a large-scale disaster that impacts all States—such as COVID-19—should be routed through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant, including enhanced flexibility regarding certain allowable uses.

NASADAD has released an updated appropriations overview to reflect the Senate Appropriation Committee’s introduction of several appropriations bills for FY 2021, including the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies funding bill. The document outlines the Senates’ recommended funding levels for NASADAD’s priority programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

During the month of September, National Recovery Month, NASADAD Members, Component Group Members, and Staff submitted pictures of themselves wearing purple to help celebrate recovery and spread awareness of substance use disorder issues. Many thanks to Jen Smith (SSA, PA), Secretary and Region III representative on NASADAD’s Board of Directors, for developing this idea.

Cassandra Price (SSA, GA), NASADAD President, included with her picture this note: “Sporting my purple in support of Recovery Month 2020! Congratulations to all of those in recovery and continued unwavering hope for those searching for the path towards recovery. Never give up!”

NASADAD is grateful for the work State Director’s did in their respective States throughout the month of September, and for their ongoing efforts to support recovery every day of the year.