Every month, we’re bringing you the top news in addiction treatment and justice services from publications around the country. In addition, we’ll share what we’re reading as our team creates and updates evidence-based curricula and training for our partners around the world.
Addiction Treatment | Justice Services | What We're Reading
Addiction Treatment
Headline
Millions of Americans have mental health and substance use disorders. Find treatment here.
What
FindTreatment.gov is a new resource from SAMHSA. Confidential and anonymous, this resource is for those seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders within the United States and its territories.
The Resources Provided
Individuals can use this site to explore treatment options, payment for treatment and information about addiction and mental health. Treatment providers can use this site to register as a treatment facility and download an interactive widget for use on their respective websites.
Headline
All Major Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers Have Offered To Settle: Opioid Settlement Pot Exceeds $50 Billion
What
Christine Minhee has tracked opioid settlements and states’ opioid settlement spending since 2019. Her site provides comprehensive and reference data on how these funds are being allocated across the states.
How the Money is Distributed
The base payment of the settlement per state can be increased with four incentive tiers that each have unique requirements. To track each state’s funds awarded, explore the table at https://www.opioidsettlementtracker.com/globalsettlementtracker/#statuses.
Headline
Medication Access Training Expansion Act Provisions (MATE): SECTION 1263 of HR 2617 Omnibus Spending Bill
What
Section 1263 establishes new training requirements for all prescribers of controlled substances. These changes take effect on June 21, 2023. According to the new legislation, all prescribers of schedule II – V controlled substances must complete an eight-hour training requirement on identifying, treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
Why It Matters
Added training can improve how the distribution of controlled substances happens and reduce/prevent a repeat of what has been seen with opioid over-prescription in recent years.
Justice Services
Headline
Legislative Analysis for Counties: The Consolidated Appropriations Act Of 2023
What
The FY 2023 omnibus represents $1.7 trillion in funding. Distinct from past funding bills, this one includes almost $10 billion in community project funding and congressionally directed spending, which represents nearly 4,000 projects. These projects include hundreds of county programs and critical infrastructure projects aimed to better serve communities via direct federal investments.
Key Funds for U.S. Dept. of Justice
|
Program |
‘23 Funding (millions) |
% Increase from ‘22 |
|
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants |
$770.8 |
14.36% |
|
Community Oriented Policing Services Program |
$662.9 |
29.73% |
|
Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program |
$190.0 |
2.70% |
|
Drug Courts - DOJ |
$95.0 |
7.95% |
|
Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program |
$45.0 |
12.50% |
|
Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act |
$400.0 |
11.11% |
|
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs |
$35.0 |
6.06% |
|
Second Chance Act Grants |
$125.0 |
8.70% |
|
Veterans' Treatment Courts |
$35.0 |
20.69% |
Headline
Justice Reinvestment Initiative in New Hampshire
What
New Hampshire is experiencing tremendous behavioral health, mental illness and substance use disorder treatment needs. Service providers have a limited ability to meet these needs generally, let alone for people in the criminal justice system. Accordingly, New Hampshire has instituted a three-part approach to help reduce patterns of incarceration for people with these needs. Their approach could serve as a primer for other states and organizations.
Their Approach
- Analyze data and develop policy options: Cross-analyzing data from Medicaid claims activity, stakeholder input, demographics, bookings and releases, screenings and assessments, medications, programming and treatment, qualitative jail assessments and focus groups to generate formal policy and regulations that better support public health and safety.
- Adopt new policies and put reinvestment strategies into place: Over 12-24 months following the formal policies being implemented, changes will be put into practice with frequent progress reports.
- Measure performance: Collecting, distilling and disseminating performance data to define future improvements and capacity to make data-driven decisions.
Headline
Two OJJDP Conferences Come Together to Strengthen Links Between Tribes and States
What
In an effort to promote collaboration between state officials and Tribal communities to keep Native youth out of the juvenile justice system, two recent conferences brought together youth voices as well as Tribal leadership.
Focus of the Sessions
Conversations focused on the implementation of the Title II Formula Grants and the core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Additional topics addressed included youth-Native identity and connection, Native LGBTQ+ / Two-Spirit issues, trauma-informed care for youth, Tribal healing and wellness courts.
What We’re Reading: The Myth of Normal
Renowned author and physician Gabor Mate’s newest work summarizes why so much of what we perceive as “normal” in our society is in fact the result of chronic stress and trauma. The Myth of Normal provides a compassionate guide to hope and healing in the face of these challenges. As one reviewer stated, it “points the way to what is required to create a more hospitable, human-friendly world for ourselves and our children.”