On April 11, 2018, NASADAD’s Executive Director, Robert Morrison, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee during its seventh bipartisan hearing focused on the opioid crisis. The Committee, which is led by Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), released a discussion draft of the Opioid Crisis Response Act earlier in April, and during the hearing they sought input from witnesses on the bill, as well as other issues related to substance use disorders.

In addition to responding to certain provisions in the discussion draft, during his verbal testimony Mr. Morrison highlighted: the important role of the State alcohol and drug agencies; the critical role of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant as the cornerstone of the publicly funded system; and the use of State Targeted Response (STR) to the Opioid Crisis grant funds for comprehensive and innovative services.

Other witnesses who testified during the hearing were Jessica Hulsey Nickel, President and CEO of the Addiction Policy Forum (APF), and Jennifer Donahue, Child Abuse Investigation Coordinator for the Delaware Office of the Child Advocate.

Mr. Morrison’s written testimony, as well as the entire recording of the hearing, can be accessed here.