Today, NASADAD releases an updated fact sheet originally released in 2015 that provides an overview of the landscape of methamphetamine use in the United States. This updated fact sheet provides current data on trends in use and admissions to treatment, the effects/risks of methamphetamine use, effective treatment services, and the role of key federal programs and agencies in addressing issues related to methamphetamine use.

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On Thursday, September 21, Representatives Becca Balint (D-VT-at large) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2) introduced H.R.5623, the “Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act.” The legislation would amend Section 416 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act by explicitly adding substance use disorders to the portion of the statute that governs the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Crisis Counseling Training and Assistance Program (CCP). Through an interagency agreement, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) provides consultation, technical assistance, and training of personnel for the CCP program. CCP grants are released after a presidential declaration to support time-limited outreach, identification, short-term counseling, referrals, and other activities to those impacted by disasters.  The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Ann Kuster (D-NH-2), and Jim Costa (D-CA-21).

NASADAD has a long history of working to promote awareness of substance use disorder considerations during a disaster. This work stems from the experiences of the September 11^th attacks and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. NASADAD initially released a Policy Brief on the topic in 2005 and issued an updated version in 2020. NASADAD sent a letter to Reps. Balint and Tokuda expressing appreciation for their leadership on H.R. 5623.

NASADAD’s most recent issue brief can be accessed here.

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Through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions (CoE), NASADAD, in collaboration with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, developed an issue brief on Integrating Peer Support Services Into Substance Use-related Crisis Care.  A substance use disorder peer recovery specialist is a trained professional who has knowledge and experience in the recovery process and helps others in similar situations. Peers are a critical component of the crisis continuum, providing empathy and connection during a crisis event, offering support and services during crisis care and referring to treatment and recovery support service after crisis care.

This brief highlights three state initiatives that have integrated peer recovery support services (PRSS) as part of their crisis response to help individuals experiencing substance use-related crises or overdoses. These examples illustrate how PRSS can be effectively integrated using a team-based approach to care and demonstrate how the personal experience and training of peers have shown positive results in referring and connecting individuals in crisis to needed care, preventing further crises and aiding individuals on their path to wellness.

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In celebration of National Recovery Month, NASADAD’s Board of Directors considered and approved a resolution in recognition of the value and importance of recovery support services for individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD). The resolution highlights the Association’s work around elevating recovery as a key component of the continuum and provides recent data on the prevalence of SUD and the impact of recovery services, the role that NASADAD members play in supporting recovery in the publicly funded SUD system, and a commitment to recognizing September 2023 as National Recovery Month.

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