Over 100 Organizations Join APF in Urging Congress to Continue Funding for Key Addiction Programs
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Addiction Policy Forum and 146 national, state, and local organizations from across the country sent a letter urging Congress to continue funding for substance use disorder programs in the FY2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill.
The national sign-on letter calls on Congress to maintain funding for key federal agencies and programs that address substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorders across the continuum of care. These investments in behavioral health care and substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery research and services have been critical in reducing overdose fatalities while also strengthening communities, supporting families, and improving health outcomes nationwide.
The letter supports continued funding for key federal research agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Their research efforts generate the scientific evidence needed to ensure that treatments, services, and resources effectively prevent and treat SUDs and empower people in recovery.
The letter also supports continued funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and SUD and mental health programs housed within the agency. SAMHSA leads national public health and service delivery efforts to address behavioral health conditions. SAMHSA’s SUD programs are designed to improve outcomes by preventing SUD, expanding access to effective treatment, and providing recovery supports.
Substance use prevention remains a cornerstone of these efforts, helping reduce the likelihood that individuals develop SUDs and contributing to sustained declines in overdose deaths. The letter highlights key SAMHSA prevention programs, including:
The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) coordinates substance use prevention efforts across the United States, focusing on preventing initiation of substance use, preventing progression of substance use, and preventing consequences associated with substance use.
The Sober Truth on Preventing Under Drinking Act program (STOP) focuses primarily on strengthening collaboration among community entities to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth aged 12-20.
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an early intervention program that emphasizes early identification of risk through screening—particularly for underage drinking, opioid use, and other substance use—followed by timely intervention and referral to treatment when appropriate.
SAMHAS’s behavioral health programs assist individuals in crisis. SAMHSA funding authorized through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the First Responder Training (Overdose Reversal Program), and the Improving Access to Overdose Treatment program expands training and access to life-saving overdose reversal tools for first responders and helps reduce overdose fatalities. Additionally, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects individuals in crisis to life-saving, trained mental health professionals who provide immediate, life-saving support.
SAMHSA’s addiction programs have played a vital role in establishing and expanding the nation’s frontline infrastructure for prevention, treatment, and recovery services by equipping medical providers and first responders with essential resources. Key programs that have expanded access to resources include:
Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)-certified facilities that provide comprehensive care for opioid use disorder (OUD), offer FDA-approved medications, such as methadone and buprenorphine, alongside counseling, behavioral therapies, and medical services.
The State Opioid Response (SOR) grants support efforts to combat addiction by funding prevention initiatives, opioid overdose reversal medications, treatment services, and recovery supports.
The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) program assists states in planning, implementing, and evaluating activities that prevent and treat substance use.
The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant provides states with funding to implement and expand comprehensive, community-based mental health services.
SAMHSA’s Criminal Justice Activities programs reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation. Drug Courts enhance public safety and improve behavioral health outcomes by providing services that address substance use and mental health disorders.
