News from the States
- Marijuana legalization bill advances in Vermont State Senate
- Connecticut pediatricians support proposal allowing limited medical marijuana for minors with specific medical conditions
In the News
- AMA President Steven Stack calls for medical community to address opioid epidemic
- NGA and AMA release joint statement calling for response to opioid epidemic
- MaineGeneral Health CMO testifies at Senate hearing on opioid use among senior citizens
News from NASADAD
- NASADAD updates SAPT Block Grant and Prevention Set-Aside fact sheets
- NASADAD attends National Association of Counties briefing on criminal justice reform
News from the States
Marijuana legalization bill advances in Vermont State Senate
A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 or older advanced in the Vermont State Senate last week. The proposed legislation would create retail licenses for businesses to sell marijuana products. The bill passed the Senate with a 17-12 vote, with opposition from both Democrats and Republicans; some Senators think the bill goes too far in increasing access to marijuana, and others think that the bill should allow Vermonters to grow small amounts of marijuana on their own. The legislation, which has support from Governor Peter Shumlin, will next move to the Vermont House of Representatives.
Read more about this story here.
Connecticut pediatricians support proposal allowing limited medical marijuana for minors with specific medical conditions
The Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics announced their support for a proposed bill that would provide access to non-smokable medical marijuana to minors with specific medical conditions, including epilepsy and terminal illnesses requiring end-of-life hospital care. The Connecticut Chapter opposed a similar measure last year, but changed policies after a hearing featuring testimony from pediatric neurologists and parents of children affected by seizure disorders and terminal illnesses. Minors would be required to receive approval from their parents, primary care providers, and healthcare specialists before being granted access to medical marijuana.
Read more about this story here.
In the News
AMA President Steven Stack calls for medical community to address opioid epidemic
American Medical Association President Steven Stack released a press release calling for the medical community to address the opioid epidemic earlier this month. Mr. Stack notes that over the past 15 years the United States has experienced over 250,000 fatal overdoses, with 30,000 in the last year alone. The press release outlines five specific steps for medical professionals to take in addressing the epidemic, including: 1) registration for State prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs); 2) the enhancement of education and training surrounding safe prescribing practices; 3) the co-prescription of naloxone to patients at risk of an overdose; 4) the expansion of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) related training programs; and 5) speaking out against mental health and substance use disorder stigma. The AMA has previously convened a taskforce comprised of State and specialty associations, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American Dental Association to identify and implement opioid-related best practices.
Read the full press release here.
NGA and AMA release joint statement calling for response to opioid epidemic
The National Governors Association (NGA) and American Medical Association (AMA) released a joint statement calling for a coordinated response to the opioid epidemic. The statement outlines several priorities for addressing the opioid crisis, including: greater integration and funding of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), more effective education and training on substance use disorders and pain management in medical schools, increased workforce development, closing the of the substance use disorder treatment gap, and expanded naloxone access.
Read the full statement here.
MaineGeneral Health CMO testifies at Senate hearing on opioid use among senior citizens
MaineGeneral Health Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Senior Vice President Steven Diaz, M.D. testified at a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing last week. Mr. Diaz’s department witnessed ten patients aged 65 years or older experience opioid overdoses in the last year, more than double the average of past years. Mr. Diaz recommended that opioid pain medication should not be the default treatment for elderly patients suffering from chronic pain, instead suggesting that a combination of alternative treatment and therapy should be pursued. Mr. Diaz’s testimony also noted the shortage of substance use disorder specialists in rural areas throughout Maine and the rest of the country. This shortage further exacerbates the opioid epidemic as individuals in need of treatment are unable to access treatment services.
View the full Senate hearing here.
News from NASADAD
NASADAD updates SAPT Block Grant and Prevention Set-Aside fact sheets
NASADAD released updated versions of its Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant and SAPT Block Grant Prevention Set-Aside fact sheets last week. The new versions contain updated information on FY 2015 and FY 2016 SAPTBG funding levels and analysis of the most recent substance use trends across the country. Over the last 10 years, SAPTBG funding has not kept up with health care inflation, resulting in a 26 percent decrease in the real value of funding when adjusted for inflation as of FY 2015.
Read the updated SAPT Block Grant fact sheet here.
Read the updated SAPT Block Grant Prevention Set-Aside fact sheet here.
NASADAD attends National Association of Counties briefing on criminal justice reform
Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern, attended the briefing hosted by the National Association of Counties (NaCo) on Tuesday, February 23rd. The briefing included several State and local officials who spoke about new approaches to criminal justice. Speakers highlighted the need for enhanced substance use disorder and mental health services, noting that many people with mental health and substance use conditions are placed in the criminal justice system due to a lack of alternatives. Supervisor Don Knabe of Los Angeles asserted that, as a result of California’s “re-alignment” strategy that has sent more incarcerated individuals to county and local jails to deal with the State’s prison overpopulation, Los Angeles county jails are now the largest psychiatric treatment facility in the country. Other speakers noted the need for equity in sentencing and greater investment in reentry services for those entering society following periods of incarceration.
Senator Al Franken (D-MN) spoke in support of the Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015 (S. 993), which recently passed the Senate and is waiting to be brought to the House floor. This legislation creates several Department of Justice administered grant programs targeting recidivism, expanding the mental health and substance use disorder workforce, and creating new treatment and prevention programs. NaCo concluded the briefing with an additional call for eliminating the restrictions surrounding Medicaid and Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals.
Speakers:
- Senator Al Franken (D- MN)
- Commissioner Sallie Clark, El Paso County, Colorado
- Chairman John Eaves, Fulton County, Georgia
- Commissioner Sally Heyman, Miami-Dade County, Florida
- Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles County, California
- Mayor Mark Luttrell, Shelby county, Tennessee
Watch a video of the briefing here.
Read more about the Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015 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.