In an effort to help communities fight the nation’s ongoing substance use disorder epidemic, U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide more than $900 million in federal funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) to support several programs.
“While there is a shortage of substance use disorder and mental health services across the country, rural communities face unique challenges in meeting their needs,” Rep. Armstrong said on Tuesday. “SAMHSA grant programs have helped state, local and tribal governments in North Dakota provide care to those most in need and I am proud to support this reauthorization.”
Rep. Armstrong on March 28 signed on as an original cosponsor of the Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act, H.R. 7234, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to reauthorize several substance use disorder programs, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Among the many authorizations included in H.R. 7234 — which is named in honor of Summer Barrow, a central Virginian who died by overdose in 2020 — is $521 million for SAMHSA Treatment Programs of Regional and National Significance, which are grant programs that target specific populations or areas of concern. Examples include training physicians in identifying patients in need of substance use disorder treatment, providing residential services to pregnant and postpartum women, and improving access to recovery through peer support counselors, the summary says.
Other authorizations would be $218 million for SAMHSA Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance, which help states identify local prevention priorities and develop strategies to reach targeted populations, and $106 million to support homeless individuals’ access to substance use disorder and mental health treatment and support transition from homelessness, according to the summary.
“Right now, we need to recognize that there are two pandemics happening in our country; even as we’re making significant progress in the fight against COVID-19, the opioid and substance use disorder crisis continues to worsen,” said Rep. Spanberger. “Going forward, we must focus on strengthening access to treatment and recovery programs.”