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NASADAD Signs Letter on the Benefits of the Post-Disaster Mental Health Response

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On May 11, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) joined other groups educating Congress on the benefits of the Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act. As noted in the letter, the proposal would extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) “…to be available following Emergency Declarations, not only for Major Disaster Declarations.” Previously, NASADAD sent letters to the House author of the bill — Representative Pressley (D-MA) on October 14, 2021 and the Senate leaders on the bill – Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Portman (R-OH) on February 22, 2022.

 

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Cassandra Price (SSA, GA) testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on behalf of NASADAD

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On April 5, Cassandra Price (SSA, GA), Director of Georgia’s Office of Addictive Diseases, as well as Past President of NASADAD’s Board of Directors, served as a witness for the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health’s hearing, “Communities in Need: Legislation to Support Mental Health and Well-Being.” The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is led by Chairwoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Ranking Member Brett Guthrie (R-KY). If you missed the hearing and would like to watch it, a recording is available here. Director Price’s written testimony is attached and available here. (Director Price began her remarks at 3:31:40 of the hearing.)

 

 

Director Price’s testimony covered the following areas:

  • The critical role of the State alcohol and drug agencies in managing the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant and State Opioid Response Grant program.
  • The role of State alcohol and drug agencies in planning substance use disorder (SUD) service delivery, treatment, recovery, as well as ensuring quality and accountability.
  • The impact of COVID-19 in Georgia.
  • Promoting cross-agency collaboration across State government given the impact of alcohol and other drug use has on other sectors.
  • Georgia’s work to partner with community stakeholders, provider networks, physicians, colleges and universities, and more to reduce the number of overdose deaths, provide access to those needing treatment, and increase the availability of recovery support in communities
  • Continued efforts to support the provider community on delivering prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
  • The importance of delivering culturally competent services.

 

Her recommendations to the Committee included:

  • Promote and ensure a strong Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that serves as the lead federal agency across the federal government on substance use disorder service delivery.
  • Ensure that federal policy and resources related to substance use disorders are routed through the State alcohol and drug agency.
  • Continued investments in the SAPT Block Grant while maintaining maximum flexibility.
  • Promote sustained and predictable funds through three- to five-year discretionary grants.
  • Continue to work to address the opioid crisis but also elevate efforts to address all substance use disorders, including those linked to alcohol and other substances.
  • Provide SAMHSA the authority and resources to help address the nation’s substance use disorder workforce crisis.
  • Ensure that initiatives designed to implement 988 and crisis services improvement to specifically include programs and strategies to address substance use disorders.
  • Maintain as much flexibility as possible in the use of SAPT Block Grant funds.

 

Other witnesses included:

Panel I

  • Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • Carole Johnson, M.A., Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration

Panel II

  • Rebecca W. Brendel, M.D., J.D., President-Elect, American Psychiatric Association
  • Sandy L. Chung, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.H.E., President-Elect, American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Steven Adelsheim, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Director, Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Children’s Health
  • Debra Pinals, M.D., Medical Director, Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, On behalf of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
  • LeVail W. Smith, C.P.S.S., Peer Support Specialist Instructor and Mentor

 

 

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NASADAD RELEASES FINAL FY 2022 APPROPRIATIONS OVERVIEW

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On March 15, 2022, President Biden signed a $1.5 trillion dollar spending package that includes final appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2022. 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.

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Sara Goldsby, State Director for South Carolina, testifies before Senate HELP Committee

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On February 1st, Sara Goldsby (SSA, S.C.), Director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS), as well as President of NASADAD’s Board of Directors, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee during a hearing, “Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Responding to the Growing Crisis.” The HELP Committee is led by Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-N.C.).

 

Ms. Goldsby’s testimony covered the following areas:

  • The critical role State alcohol and drug agencies play in overseeing and implementing a coordinated prevention, treatment, and recovery service system
  • Working to support providers to ensure quality and delivery of evidence-based practices
  • Coordinating with other State agencies on programs and services across prevention, treatment, and recovery
  • Communicating with, and acquiring input from, providers and local communities and stakeholders
  • Efforts from the federal government that have been helpful in addressing SUD issues

 

Her recommendations to the Committee included:

  • Promote and ensure a strong SAMHSA that serves as the lead federal agency across the federal government on substance use disorder service delivery
  • Ensure that federal policy and resources related to substance use disorders are routed through the State alcohol and drug agency
  • Continued investments in the SAPT Block Grant while maintaining maximum flexibility
  • Promote sustained and predictable funds through three- to five-year discretionary grants
  • Ensure new federal initiatives and funding complement and enhance the current system
  • Continue to work to address the opioid crisis but also elevate efforts to address all substance use disorders, including those linked to alcohol and other substances
  • Provide SAMHSA the authority and resources to help address the nation’s substance use disorder workforce crisis
  • Ensure that initiatives designed to implement 988 and crisis services improvement to specifically include programs and strategies to address substance use disorders
  • Maintain recent flexibilities to ensure access to substance use disorder services

 

Other witnesses included:

  • Mitch Prinstein, PhD, ABPP, Chief Science Officer, American Psychological Association, Chapel Hill, NC
  • Michelle P. Durham, MD, MPH, FAPA, DFAACAP, Vice Chair of Education, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
  • Jennifer D. Lockman, PhD, CEO, Centerstone Research Institute, Nashville, TN
  • Claire Rhyneer, Mental Health Youth Advocate, Anchorage, AK

 

If you missed the hearing and would like to watch it, a recording is available here.

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NASADAD releases updated FY 22 appropriations overview

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On October 18th, the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-AL), released the report to accompany the FY 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021-Sept. 30, 2022) Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill includes funding for all HHS programs, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

 

The appropriations chart can be accessed here.

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NASADAD releases updated SAPT Block Grant Prevention Set-Aside Fact Sheet

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NASADAD is pleased to announce the release of an updated fact sheet on the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant prevention set-aside administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The updated fact sheet includes the following:

  • An overview of the prevention set-aside
  • Data on substance use, including increases in use during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • New section on the value of prevention efforts
  • How prevention set-aside funds are used
  • Targeted prevention efforts
  • Prevention success stories
  • Recent investments in the SAPT Block Grant prevention set-aside in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Description of the role of the State Alcohol & Drug Agency

 

To view the fact sheet, click here.

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NASADAD releases updated SAPT Block Grant fact sheet

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The NASADAD Policy Department recently released an updated fact sheet on the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The updated 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 COVID-19 relief packages
  • 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

To view the fact sheet, click here.