Every month, we’re bringing you the top news in addiction treatment and justice services from publications around the country.
Addiction treatment | Justice services | What we're reading
Addiction treatment
Headline
Biden-Harris Administration launches the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose
What
The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose launched on March 13. The Challenge is a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to save lives by committing to increase training on and access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications.
More details
This work builds on the efforts of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand access to overdose reversal medications. The Biden-Harris Administration is also encouraging business leaders to commit to train employees on opioid overdose reversal medications, keep the medications in first aid kits and distribute medications to employees and customers so they might save a life at home, work or in their communities.
Headline
Biden-Harris Administration announces launch of nearly $50 million initiative to support opioid treatment and recovery services in rural communities
What
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Opioid Treatment and Recovery Initiative, part of President Biden's Unity Agenda, allocates nearly $50 million to address the opioid crisis in rural areas. The funding aims to expand treatment services, particularly for at-risk populations like adolescents and those with justice involvement.
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Challenges such as geographic isolation and limited providers hinder access to care. The initiative focuses on increasing medication access, building workforce capacity and providing recovery support. Grants support various activities including mobile units for medication delivery, integrating treatment into primary care and facilitating employment for recovery individuals. Funds can also be used to address social determinants of health and transportation barriers.
Read more | Download our opioid abatement white paper
Headline
Experts weigh in on why alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. jumped 29 percent in 5 years
What
Data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrates that alcohol-related deaths jumped almost 30% in five years, likely attributed to the isolation during COVID but also to the accessibility of alcohol and an “acceptability” around binge drinking.
Read more | Read the CDC Report
Justice services
Headline
New transition proposal aims to keep veterans out of justice system
What
The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) Veterans Justice Commission released recommendations focused on strengthening support for service members as they transition from military to civilian life. The Commission found that inadequate support for those most vulnerable leaves many veterans with untreated PTSD and other service-related conditions that increase their risk of criminal behavior and other negative outcomes.
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The three recommendations released by the commission called for federal agencies to work together to make successful veteran transition a priority, integrate evidence-based practices into the handling of performance issues and specified military justice cases, and provide VA eligibility to all former service members not discharged under dishonorable conditions.
Read more | Explore our curricula for justice-involved veterans
Headline
Biden signs six-bill spending package funding key criminal justice programs
What
This month, President Biden signed a $460 billion spending package for Fiscal Year 2024, allocating funds to key criminal justice programs. The package includes funding for initiatives like the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($40 million), the Justice Reinvestment Initiative ($32 million) and the Second Chance Act ($117 million). Bipartisan support secured significant funding for these programs, aiming to sustain impactful work in communities nationwide.
Headline
Aurora’s SAVE Program charts a new path for at-risk youth
What
The city of Aurora, Colorado, is a 2021 Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Public Safety Partnership (PSP) site. A key result of the PSP initiative is the Standing Against Violence Every Day (SAVE) program, designed to address gun crime among violent street groups. SAVE uses a data-driven approach and collaboration between law enforcement, social services and community organizations, providing voluntary options for reform to individuals between the ages of 14 and 25.
The impact
By focusing on intervention, mentoring and community support, SAVE aims to steer youth away from violence, showing promising early results in reduced crime rates and increased community engagement.
Read more | Explore our juvenile programming
What we're reading
A radical advance in the integration of co-occurring mental health care within the addiction system by Kenneth Minkoff, MD
This week we had the pleasure of having a webinar conversation with Dr. Kenneth Minkoff, who helped develop the updated standards of the ASAM Criteria 4th Edition regarding co-occurring conditions. This guest editorial for the American Society of Medicine (ASAM) highlights these recent updates and expands upon how providers can offer hopeful, effective treatment for individuals with co-occurring mental health needs. This editorial is a helpful accompaniment to Episode 5 of our ongoing ASAM Criteria Unplugged and Other Tales from the Field series, featuring Dr. Minkoff; available soon on the Fidelity Platform.
