December 11, 2023
Bethesda, MD- Addiction Policy Forum is proud to announce that 56 organizations have signed on to a national support letter for the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4531).
The SUPPORT Reauthorization Act, sponsored by Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Congresswoman Ann Kuster (D-NH), is a vital piece of legislation aimed at addressing the ongoing addiction and overdose crisis. The bill would reauthorize and expand upon critical programs and grants from the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6), passed by Congress in 2018.
According to recent data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the need for comprehensive solutions to combat addiction and overdoses is more urgent than ever. Over 48 million Americans met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD) in 2022, and more than 108,400 people died of a drug overdose between June 2022 and May 2023.
The SUPPORT Reauthorization Act, through funding and services, will enhance efforts to support millions of Americans impacted by addiction. The legislation includes provisions such as programs for monitoring and education of infections commonly associated with illicit drug use, prescription drug monitoring programs, overdose prevention programs, and residential treatment recovery services for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder.
Other key components of the bill include a national peer-run training and technical assistance center for addiction recovery support, programs for first responders to reverse overdoses, comprehensive treatment and recovery support services, opportunities for people in recovery to reenter the workforce, and measures to expand coverage for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) under state Medicaid plans.
Addiction Policy Forum extends its gratitude to the 19 national and 37 state/local organizations that have signed the national support letter for the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act. Their commitment and support demonstrate the shared dedication to finding comprehensive solutions to the addiction crisis that our nation faces.
For more information about the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act and Addiction Policy Forum's efforts to combat the addiction crisis, please visit the Addiction Policy Forum website.
About Addiction Policy Forum
Addiction Policy Forum is a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating addiction as a major health problem. By working collaboratively with key partners, including patients, families, communities, and policymakers, the Addiction Policy Forum seeks to shape public policy, educate the public, and provide resources and support to individuals and families affected by addiction.