Of the 81 (87%) participants who returned for follow-up, the majority (n = 62, 77%) used at least one FTS, and of those, a majority found them to be useful and straightforward to use. Positive FTS results led some participants to alter their drug use behaviors, including discarding their drug supply, using with someone else, and keeping…

Headed by the Legal Action Center, more than 100 treatment and recovery organizations have joined a “Campaign to Protect Patient Privacy Rights,” focused on maintaining the confidentiality of substance use disorder (SUD) patients.

On January 16, 2018, Governor Cuomo announced the following budget proposal: “A new surcharge of 2 cents per milligram of active opioid ingredient on prescription drugs, directing all proceeds to the Opioid Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Fund. This new fund will support on-going efforts to respond to the epidemic.” This policy briefing includes four sections:…

With the loss of some recovery leaders from federal government, some advocates in the field are worried that their momentum will be lost (see ADAW, February 6). But interviews last week revealed that even without a website for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) — something which has rattled advocates who want everything…

Although civil commitment has been used to address substance abuse for more than a century, little is known today about the nature and use of substance-related commitment laws in the United States. We examined statutes between July 2010 and October 2012 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia for provisions authorizing civil commitment…

Soon after the passage of Health Reform legislation, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) identified 10 aspects of federal health reform that states must get right if they are to be successful in implementation. States that adopt a coordinated, strategic approach to implementing federal health reform will find that the new law contains…

“As you develop a market stabilization framework, we respectfully ask that benefit protections for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services through the exchanges and individual/small group markets be maintained and that those benefits be offered consistent with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).”

This document will first provide a summary of the most common involuntary commitment provisions across the nation followed by a series of charts with detailed information on each state’s laws. Please note that the focus of this memorandum is on civil commitment rather than on commitment of individuals with criminal charges who are ordered to…

Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue. The Drug Enforcement Administration provides guidance on the right way to dispose of unused medicine.

Opioids continue to fuel the worst drug overdose epidemic in our nation’s history, claiming the lives of 115 individuals every day and devastating families and communities across the country.1 Governors have been leading the fight against this deadly epidemic, working across all levels of government as well as with families, health care providers and others…

Thank you for your leadership in Congress on treatment and recovery programs for individuals and families struggling with substance use disorders. As Congress begins to work on appropriations for FY 2018, we wanted to weigh in and express support for several federal programs that have a tremendous impact on those we serve

Adolescents and young adults are in a critical window of vulnerability to substance use disorders. Risk-taking behaviors like experimentation with drugs and alcohol are common among young people, and early substance use increases the likelihood of developing an addiction later in life. With drug overdose deaths in the United States at an all-time high, it…