Over 100 Organizations Urge Congress to Pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act of 2025

Addiction Policy Forum led the national endorsement letter with over 100 national, state, and local organizations in support of reauthorizing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.2540) to extend the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Grant Program (COSSUP). COSSUP provides financial and technical assistance to state and local governments to implement tailored evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment programming, helping jurisdictions identify, respond to, treat, and support people with a substance use disorder.

Since 2016, when COSSUP was enacted as a part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 (PL 114-198), it has maintained bipartisan support and was reauthorized as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act) of 2018 (PL 115- 271).

COSSUP supports states, local governments, and tribal governments in developing, implementing, or expanding comprehensive, collaborative efforts across public health, behavioral health, and public safety sectors to identify, treat, and support individuals affected by opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Key COSSUP features that would be extended include:

1. Promoting public safety and supporting access to treatment and recovery services in the criminal justice system.

2. Strengthening the collection and sharing of data across systems to understand and address the impact of illicit substance use and misuse.

3. Aligning and maximizing resources across systems and leveraging different program funding.

4. Preventing illicit substance use and misuse.

   
   

Grantees choose projects that best meet their community’s needs, including expanding reentry supports, increasing naloxone access for communities and first responders, implementing Drug Courts, and expanding medication-assisted treatment for incarcerated individuals and other community members with a substance use disorder.

“The fight to end addiction requires a comprehensive and community-wide approach. That’s why I’m working to reauthorize the life-saving Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program, which addresses the opioid epidemic on multiple fronts,” said Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). “By equipping our communities with effective drug prevention and recovery resources, Congress can ensure Iowans in addiction-recovery will have the support they need to succeed.”

“Support for people battling addiction is a bipartisan priority in Congress, and there’s more to be done to build on our CARA law and support all those on the long, noble path to recovery,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). “I’m partnering with Senator Grassley to push for the reauthorization of this grant program, which marks another step in the fight against an epidemic that has taken a heartbreaking toll on Rhode Islanders from all walks of life.”

Read Letter