NASADAD releases updated timeline of STR and SOR funding

In 2018, NASADAD developed a timeline of the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) grant programs. The timeline outlines key dates, such as: when grants were authorized; when Congress appropriated funds; when funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) were released; funding award periods for States for each of the grant programs; and more. NASADAD has updated the timeline to reflect two recent developments:

  • In December 2019, Congress appropriated level funding of $1.5 billion for the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program, and noted that “stimulant abuse” would be an allowable use of SOR funds in FY 2020.
  • In February 2020, the Administration released its proposed budget for FY 2021 and included a request of $1.585 billion for SOR, an increase of $85 million compared to FY 2020.

Access the updated STR/SOR timeline here.

NASADAD releases summary of Administration’s FY 2021 budget proposal

On February 10, 2020, the Administration released “A Budget for America’s Future,” its budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2021 (October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021). NASADAD developed an overview of the Administration’s proposed funding levels for the Association’s priority programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as select programs within the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The document compares the President’s FY 2021 proposal to the final FY 2020 funding levels and provides language from the Administration’s Congressional Justifications.

Access the chart here

NASADAD releases overview of and recommendations regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)

NASADAD is pleased to announce the release of an Overview of and Recommendations Regarding Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). The overview:

  • Offers background on e-cigarettes and reviews the scope of the problem, especially among youth;
  • Outlines federal actions over the past several years, including recent steps to raise the minimum age of legal tobacco product access to 21;
  • Describes the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) role in regulating the sale of tobacco products;
  • Describes the State alcohol & drug agencies’ role in tobacco control, with a particular focus on Synar; and
  • Offers NASADAD’s position and recommendations related to ENDS.

NASADAD Releases Final FY 2020 Appropriations Overview

On December 19, 2019, Congress passed a final FY 2020 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.

NASADAD releases updated FY 2020 appropriations overview

NASADAD has released an updated appropriations overview to outline the the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) bill, a $70.833 billion funding bill that is $6.7 billion above the FY 2019 enacted level. The bill funds the Department of Justice (DOJ) at $32.446 billion and provides $378 million for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) programs, including $90 million for the Second Chance Act grants which offer substance use treatment, employment assistance, and other rehabilitation services. This appropriations update also summarizes proposed FY 2020 funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

NASADAD releases State STR/SOR Profiles

NASADAD has released State-specific profiles that describe highlights of each State alcohol and drug agency’s efforts to address the opioid crisis with use of the State Targeted Response (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) grants, which are managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The State-specific profiles provide background on the STR/SOR grants, outline each State’s efforts across the continuum of care, and describe the initial positive outcomes each State has experienced with support from STR and SOR grant funds.

New NASADAD Issue Brief: The Benefits of Using GIS Technology in State Substance Use Agencies

A new Issue Brief from NASADAD discusses how geographic information system (GIS) and other data visualization technologies enhance the way that state substance use agencies plan, implement, monitor, and communicate about their prevention, treatment, and recovery activities. GIS is a powerful analytical tool that is increasingly being used in new and innovative ways by state substance use agencies.

GIS technology has been used in many fields for decades, but its adoption in the substance use field is relatively new. This Issue Brief provides case studies of two states – Washington and Pennsylvania – that have made GIS an integral part of their substance use agency’s operations.

The Issue Brief, The Benefits of Using GIS Technology in State Substance Use Agencies, describes the benefits and impacts GIS and data visualization tools have had on shared challenges: how to improve access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services; where to deploy limited resources; and how to effectively communicate with a diverse group of stakeholders – community partners, state and local policymakers, healthcare providers, the media, and the general public – about pressing substance use problems. The Issue Brief is meant to inspire states’ adoption of these technologies in their own substance use agencies. It describes how GIS has enabled Washington and Pennsylvania to strengthen program management and service delivery through mapping of state and community data, better-informed decision making, and greater efficiencies in service planning.

Read or download the Issue Brief here.

NASADAD releases updated STR/SOR Funding Timeline

NASADAD has released an updated timeline of funding for the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) grant programs. The timeline outlines key dates, such as: when grants were authorized; when Congress appropriated funds; when funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) were released; funding award periods for States for each of the grant programs; and more.

 

Here are some highlights from the timeline:

  • The timeline begins with passage of the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016, which created a $1 billion account in the Treasury to be used for grants to States to address the opioid crisis. This culminated in the STR grant program, for which the State alcohol and drug agencies were the eligible applicants.
  • In FY 2018, Congress allocated an additional $1 billion to States to address opioid addiction and overdose through the SOR grants. The State alcohol and drug agencies were listed as the eligible applicants for SOR.
  • The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2018 reauthorized STR through FY 2021. However, Congress did not allocate funds to STR in FY 2019.
  • Congress appropriated $1.5 billion for SOR in FY 2019.

 

The updated the timeline includes these recent developments:

  • On March 11, 2019, the Administration released its proposed budget for FY 2020, and included a request of $1.5 billion for the SOR program.
  • On March 20, 2019, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced an additional $487 million to supplement first-year SOR funding.
  • The next installment of $1 billion is expected to later this fiscal year.