Addictions News Now: July 2009
July 2009
House Committee Approves HR 3245, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act
Texas Passes Law to Support Creation of Veterans Courts
Unforeseen Benefits: Addiction Treatment Reduces Health Care Costs
SAMHSA Releases TIP 50, Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
Families USA releases “Coverage for America: We All Stand to Gain”
The National HIV Prevention Inventory: The State of HIV Prevention Across the U.S.
For the first time at its Annual Conference the National Council featured Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a keynote speaker. Dr. Volkow spoke to the attendees about important research that has identified addiction as a brain disease that is developmental in nature and which often begins in adolescence and childhood. Dr. Volkow noted that addiction can be successfully treated and that while relapse often occurs, relapse rates are similar for drug dependence and other chronic illnesses, and in order to successfully manage addiction continuing care is necessary. Also highlighted were the many serious medical consequences that often coincide and/or result from addiction including mental illness, cancer, infectious diseases (HIV, HCV), cardiac, pulmonary, and obesity. Dr. Volkow cited three main roadblocks to advances in addiction prevention and treatment: the lack of pharmaceutical industry interest in developing medications to treat addiction; erosion of the medical community’s involvement in preventing and treating drug abuse and addiction; and treatments for addiction though available, are not widely used by those who need them. To view the entire presentation visit the National Council's website.
Alexa Eggleston, JD
Director of Public Policy
ON THE HILL
Senate Committee Approves $40 Million Increase for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant as Appropriations Process Moves Forward
On July 30th, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill (LHHS), and in doing so allocated a $40 million increase to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG), the largest funding increase that the SAPTBG has seen in the last several years. Although the Senate did approve increases for a number of SAMHSA programs, in general, the increases were smaller than those granted by the House. Notable increases approved by the Committee:
- Children and Families Program within the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) would receive a $10 million increase for "evidence-based adolescent substance abuse treatment" to bring total funding to $30.6 million.
- "Treatment Drug Courts" within CSAT would receive a $20 million increase with $5 million specifically targeted at "families affected by methamphetamine abuse" for a total budget of $48 million.
- "Ex-offender Re-entry" Programs within CSAT would receive a $10 million increase to bring the total funding to $18 million.
- "Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Program" in the Center for Mental Health Services would contain a $2 million increase, for a total of $9 million for the program, $5 million less than the $14 million recommended by the House.
Stay tuned for National Council's Public Policy Update for regular updates on the Appropriations process.
House Committee Approves HR 3245, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act
After two decades of criticism over cocaine sentences that disproportionately punish African Americans, momentum is building in Congress and in the Obama administration for a legislative fix, representing a fundamental shift in politics and attitude, even among key Republican lawmakers. For the first time, after multiple attempts, a House Committee recently approved a bill to equalize criminal penalties for people caught with crack cocaine and those caught with powder cocaine. The bill would eliminate mandatory prison terms of no less than five years for possession of crack cocaine. The bill now moves to the Full House for a vote. To view complete article visit the Washington Post’s website. The text of the legislation and list of co-sponsors is available online.
IN THE NEWS
Texas Passes Law to Support Creation of Veterans Courts
Suppressed images of war and a debilitating shoulder and neck injury received while serving in the Army — along with subsequent marital problems — led to his addiction to alcohol and pain medication. Those demons also led to the unraveling of his life and a mounting criminal record. Faced with the prospect of spending years in jail or prison, the now-40-year-old Decatur man, who asked to be identified only as Raymond, was given a second chance. Under a new Texas law passed this year and signed by the governor last month, the special effort made by defense attorney Jim Lane and district judge Sharen Wilson to aid Raymond could be available statewide through counties that start Veterans court programs. Similar to drug, mental health and DWI programs — referred to as "problem-solving" courts — the new law allows Texas counties to create veterans court programs to divert nonviolent offenders into counseling and other programs. View the whole story on the Star-Telegram’s website.
Unforeseen Benefits: Addiction Treatment Reduces Health Care Costs
A new white paper demonstrates that treating Americans who are addicted to alcohol and drugs will lead to substantial health care savings totaling billions of dollars over a decade. Developed by the Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap initiative, the paper cites peer-reviewed studies showing that addiction treatment will contribute to containing health care costs by reducing emergency room visits, hospital stays and overall health care costs.
Drug War's Wrong Focus: When it Comes to Treatment, the White House should Put its Money where its Mouth is
In Baltimore, new U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske recently made the case for expansion of drug courts to treat rather than imprison addicts and called for drugs to be considered a "public health crisis." Why, then, is the Obama administration proposing to spend an even higher percentage of its anti-drug resources on law enforcement than the administration of George W. Bush? With 20.8 million Americans needing treatment but unable to get it - by some estimates, 30,000 in Baltimore alone - Congress should double the $5 billion currently budgeted for prevention and treatment according to the Baltimore Sun.
RESOURCES AND REMINDERS
Prevention Highlight: SAMHSA Releases “Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Cents: A Cost-Benefit Analysis”
Policymakers and other stakeholders can use cost-benefit analysis as an informative tool for decision making for substance abuse prevention. This report reveals the importance of supporting effective prevention programs as part of a comprehensive substance abuse prevention strategy.
SAMHSA Releases TIP 50, Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
Research consistently shows a high prevalence of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among persons with substance abuse problems who are in treatment and a significant prevalence of death-by-suicide among those who have at one time been in substance abuse treatment when compared with those who do not have a diagnosis of substance use disorder. TIP 50 is for substance abuse counselors and presents the “how to” of working with clients with substance use disorders who have suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors. Download a copy of TIP 50 by visiting SAMHSA's website.
Families USA releases “Coverage for America: We All Stand to Gain”
The report provides state-by-state estimates of how many people will gain coverage under America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (currently being debated in the House). The report indicates that the health reform bill proposed by key committees in the House will benefit all Americans.
The National HIV Prevention Inventory: The State of HIV Prevention Across the U.S.
This report provides the first comprehensive inventory of how HIV prevention is delivered across the country, based on a survey of the 65 health departments receiving direct federal HIV prevention funding, including every state and territory, plus six cities. The report was authored by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.
