Jul 14, 2016
Landmark Addiction Legislation Heads to The President's Desk
The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers - Policy Representative, Mark Dunn, reporting from Washington, DC:
Today the US Senate, with a huge bipartisan vote, passed CARA - The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. The National Association has been heavily involved in the coalition in support of the legislation.
CARA provides assisted addiction treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, veterans and youth. It also provides medication assisted treatment options for those who qualify and expands the number of health care professionals who may prescribe those medications.
The bill creates an alternative to incarceration program, providing treatment for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. It includes training and resources to better divert individuals with substance use disorders.
Heralded as a major life saving aspect of the bill, it also expands the availability of naloxone to law enforcement and other first responders. It includes support of Drug-Free Communities and awareness programs.
We are pleased to get this important bill through the complicated legislative process and sincerely appreciate the NAATP members who engaged with their members of Congress to help make it happen.
NAATP Executive Director Marvin Ventrell said: "while the longterm significance of CARA cannot be known at this time, the legislation is seminal in its potential to reframe national addiction policy as a health care condition that demands a comprehensive health care response. Blame, stigmatization, and certainly criminalization should no longer be our national response. Of course now, we must redouble our advocacy efforts to produce the necessary funding to effectuate the policy."
