II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1906 

To understand and comprehensively address the oral health problems 

associated with methamphetamine use. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2007 

Mr. BAUCUS (for himself and Mr. COLEMAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To understand and comprehensively address the oral health 

problems associated with methamphetamine use. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Meth Mouth Prevention and Community Recovery Act’’. 

6 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 

7 (1) to investigate and report on all aspects of 

8 meth mouth, including its causes, public health im9 pact, innovative models for its prevention, and new 

10 and improved methods for its treatment; 


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1 (2) to ensure dentists and allied dental per2 sonnel are able to recognize the signs of substance 

3 abuse in their patients, discuss the nature of addic4 tion as it relates to oral health and dental care, and 

5 facilitate appropriate help for patients (and family 

6 members of patients) who are affected by a sub7 stance use disorder; 

8 (3) to determine whether, how, and to what de9 gree educating youth about meth mouth is an effec10 tive strategy for preventing or reducing the preva11 lence of methamphetamine use; and 

12 (4) to underscore the many ways that dentists 

13 and other oral health professionals can contribute to 

14 the general health of their patients, their commu15 nities, and the country as a whole. 

16 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

17 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; purposes. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

TITLE I—EVIDENCE–BASED PREVENTION 

Sec. 101. Findings; purpose; definitions. 

Sec. 102. Methamphetamine prevention demonstration projects. 

Sec. 103. Education for American Indian and Alaska native children. 

Sec. 104. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE II—METH MOUTH RESEARCH INVESTMENT ACT 

Sec. 201. Findings; purpose; definitions. 

Sec. 202. Research on substance abuse, oral health, and dental care. 

Sec. 203. Study of methamphetamine-related oral health costs. 

Sec. 204. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE III—SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION FOR DENTAL 

PROFESSIONALS 


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Sec. 301. Findings; purpose; definitions. 

Sec. 302. Substance abuse training for dental professionals. 

Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations. 

1 TITLE I—EVIDENCE–BASED 

2 PREVENTION 

3 SEC. 101. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 

5 (1) According to the Substance Abuse and Men6 tal Health Services Administration, first-time meth7 amphetamine use is most likely to occur between the 

8 ages of 18 and 25. Prevention efforts must therefore 

9 begin during the teen years. 

10 (2) Most young people do not realize that meth11 amphetamine use can quickly leave their teeth black12 ened, stained, rotting, and crumbling or falling apart 

13 and that the treatment options are often limited. 

14 (3) By educating youth about meth mouth, oral 

15 health advocates can play a substantial role in help16 ing to prevent first-time methamphetamine use. 

17 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 

18 for a number of projects to evaluate whether, how, and 

19 to what degree educating youth about meth mouth is an 

20 effective strategy for preventing or reducing methamphet21 amine use. 

22 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 

23 (1) ANTI-DRUG COALITION.—The term ‘‘anti24 drug coalition’’ has the meaning given to the term 


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1 ‘‘eligible coalition’’ in section 1023 of the National 

2 Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 1523). 

3 (2) DENTAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘dental 

4 organization’’ means a group of persons organized to 

5 represent the art and science of dentistry or who are 

6 otherwise associated for the primary purpose of ad7 vancing the public’s oral health. 

8 (3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

9 the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Pre10 vention. 

11 (4) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY

12 SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec13 ondary school’’ have the meanings given to such 

14 terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Sec15 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

16 (5) INDIAN; INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZA17 TION.—The terms ‘‘Indian’’, ‘‘Indian tribe’’, and 

18 ‘‘tribal organization’’ have the meanings given to 

19 such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter20 mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 

21 450b). 

22 (6) METH MOUTH.—The term ‘‘meth mouth’’ 

23 means a distinct and often severe pattern of oral 

24 decay that is commonly associated with meth25 amphetamine use. 


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1 (7) SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.—The term 

2 ‘‘substance use disorder’’ means any harmful pat3 tern of alcohol or drug use that leads to clinically 

4 significant impairment in physical, psychological, 

5 interpersonal, or vocational functioning. 

6 (8) YOUTH.—The term ‘‘youth’’ has the mean7 ing given to such term in section 1023 of the Na8 tional Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 

9 1523). 

10 SEC. 102. METHAMPHETAMINE PREVENTION DEMONSTRA11 TION PROJECTS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 519E of 

13 the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–25e), the 

14 Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention 

15 shall make grants to public and private nonprofit entities 

16 to enable such entities to determine whether, how, and to 

17 what degree educating youth about meth mouth is an ef18 fective strategy for preventing or reducing methamphet19 amine use. 

20 (b) USE OF FUNDS.— 

21 (1) MANDATORY USES.—Amounts awarded 

22 under this title shall be used for projects that focus 

23 on, or include specific information about, the oral 

24 health risks associated with methamphetamine use. 


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1 (2) AUTHORIZED USES.—Amounts awarded 

2 under this title may be used— 

3 (A) to develop or acquire instructional aids 

4 to enhance the teaching and learning process 

5 (including audiovisual items, computer-based 

6 multimedia, supplemental print material, and 

7 similar resources); 

8 (B) to develop or acquire promotional 

9 items to be used for display or distribution on 

10 school campuses (including posters, flyers, bro11 chures, pamphlets, message-based apparel, but12 tons, stickers, and similar items); 

13 (C) to facilitate or directly furnish school14 based instruction concerning the oral health 

15 risks associated with methamphetamine use; 

16 (D) to train State and local health offi17 cials, health professionals, members of anti18 drug coalitions, parents, and others how to 

19 carry messages about the oral health risks asso20 ciated with methamphetamine use to youth; and 

21 (E) to support other activities deemed ap22 propriate by the Director. 

23 (c) GRANT ELIGIBILITY.— 

24 (1) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for grants 

25 under this title, an entity shall prepare and submit 


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1 an application at such time, in such manner, and 

2 containing such information as the Director may 

3 reasonably require. 

4 (2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted 

5 pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include— 

6 (A) a description of the objectives to be at7 tained; 

8 (B) a description of the manner in which 

9 the grant funds will be used; and 

10 (C) a plan for evaluating the project’s suc11 cess using methods that are evidence-based. 

12 (3) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under 

13 this title, the Director shall give preference to appli14 cants that intend to— 

15 (A) collaborate with one or more dental or16 ganizations; 

17 (B) partner with one or more anti-drug 

18 coalitions; and 

19 (C) coordinate their activities with one or 

20 more national, State, or local methamphetamine 

21 prevention campaigns or oral health promotion 

22 initiatives. 

23 (d) LIMITATIONS.— 


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1 (1) GRANT AMOUNTS.—The amount of an 

2 award under this title may not exceed $50,000 per 

3 grantee. 

4 (2) DURATION.—The Director shall award 

5 grants under this title for a period not to exceed 3 

6 years. 

7 (e) EVALUATION AND DISSEMINATION.—The Direc8 tor shall collect and widely disseminate information about 

9 the effectiveness of the demonstration projects assisted 

10 under this title. 

11 SEC. 103. EDUCATION FOR AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA 

12 NATIVE CHILDREN. 

13 Not less than 5 percent of the funds appropriated 

14 pursuant to section 104 for a fiscal year shall be awarded 

15 to Indian tribes and tribal organizations for the purpose 

16 of educating Indian youth about the oral health risks asso17 ciated with methamphetamine use. 

18 SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

19 There are authorized to be appropriated for the pur20 pose of carrying out this title $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 

21 years 2009 through 2011. Amounts authorized to be ap22 propriated under this section are in addition to any other 

23 amounts authorized to be appropriated for such purpose. 


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1 TITLE II—METH MOUTH 

2 RESEARCH INVESTMENT ACT 

3 SEC. 201. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 

5 (1) As the number of regular methamphetamine 

6 users has increased, so has a peculiar set of dental 

7 problems linked to the drug. The condition (known 

8 as ‘‘meth mouth’’) develops rapidly and is attributed 

9 to the drug’s acidic nature, its ability to dry the 

10 mouth, the tendency of users to grind and clench 

11 their teeth, and a drug-induced craving for sugar12 laden soft drinks. 

13 (2) Meth mouth is regarded by many as an an14 ecdotal phenomenon. Few peer-reviewed studies have 

15 been published that examine its causes, its physical 

16 effects, its prevalence, or its public health costs. 

17 (3) Enhanced research would help to identify 

18 the prevalence and scope of meth mouth. Such re19 search would also help determine how substances of 

20 abuse can damage the teeth and other oral tissues, 

21 and offer the possibility of developing new and im22 proved prevention, harm-reduction, and cost man23 agement strategies. 

24 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 

25 for enhanced research examining all aspects of meth 


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1 mouth, including its causes, its public health impact, inno2 vative models for its prevention, and new and improved 

3 methods for its treatment. 

4 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 

5 (1) CLINICAL RESEARCH; HEALTH SERVICES

6 RESEARCH.—The terms ‘‘clinical research’’ and 

7 ‘‘health services research’’ shall have the meanings 

8 given to such terms in section 409 of the Public 

9 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d). 

10 (2) INDIAN; INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZA11 TION.—The terms ‘‘Indian’’, ‘‘Indian tribe’’, and 

12 ‘‘tribal organization’’ shall have the meanings given 

13 to such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter14 mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 

15 450b). 

16 (3) METH MOUTH.—The term ‘‘meth mouth’’ 

17 means a distinct and often severe pattern of oral 

18 decay that is commonly associated with meth19 amphetamine use. 

20 (4) PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH.—The term 

21 ‘‘public health research’’ means research that fo22 cuses on population-based health measures. 

23 (5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

24 the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 


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1 (6) SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.—The term 

2 ‘‘substance use disorder’’ means any harmful pat3 tern of alcohol or drug use that leads to clinically 

4 significant impairment in physical, psychological, 

5 interpersonal, or vocational functioning. 

6 SEC. 202. RESEARCH ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ORAL 

7 HEALTH, AND DENTAL CARE. 

8 (a) EXPANSION OF ACTIVITY.—In carrying out part 

9 A of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

10 241 et seq.), the Secretary shall expand and intensify the 

11 clinical research, health services research, and public 

12 health research on associations between substance use dis13 orders, oral health, and the provision of dental care. 

14 (b) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection 

15 (a), the Secretary— 

16 (1) may enter into contracts or agreements with 

17 other Federal agencies, including interagency agree18 ments, to delegate authority for the execution of 

19 grants and for such other activities as may be nec20 essary to carry out this section; 

21 (2) may carry out this section directly or 

22 through grants or cooperative agreements with 

23 State, local, and territorial units of government, In24 dian tribes, and tribal organizations, or other public 

25 or nonprofit private entities; and 


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1 (3) may request and use such information, 

2 data, and reports from any Federal, State, local, or 

3 private entity as may be required to carry out this 

4 section, with the consent of such entity. 

5 SEC. 203. STUDY OF METHAMPHETAMINE-RELATED ORAL 

6 HEALTH COSTS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 202, the 

8 Secretary shall conduct a study to determine whether, 

9 how, and to what degree methamphetamine use affects the 

10 demand for (and provision of) dental care. The study shall 

11 account for both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and 

12 subgroups), and persons of all ages and from all geo13 graphic areas as appropriate for the scientific goals of the 

14 research. 

15 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

16 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a spe17 cial report detailing the results of the study described in 

18 subsection (a), with findings that address— 

19 (1) the prevalence and severity of oral health 

20 problems believed to be associated with methamphet21 amine use; 

22 (2) the criteria most commonly used to deter23 mine whether a patient’s oral health problems are 

24 associated with methamphetamine use; 


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1 (3) the therapies most commonly used to treat 

2 patients with meth mouth; 

3 (4) the clinical prognosis for patients who re4 ceived care for meth mouth; and 

5 (5) the financial impact of meth mouth on pub6 licly financed dental programs. 

7 SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

8 There are authorized to be appropriated for the pur9 pose of carrying out this title, $200,000 for each of fiscal 

10 years 2009 through 2011. Amounts authorized to be ap11 propriated under this section are in addition to any other 

12 amounts authorized to be appropriated for such purpose. 

13 TITLE III—SUBSTANCE ABUSE 

14 EDUCATION FOR DENTAL 

15 PROFESSIONALS 

16 SEC. 301. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 

17 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 

18 (1) The use of certain therapeutic agents in 

19 dental treatment can jeopardize the health and af20 fect the relapse potential of patients with substance 

21 use disorders. 

22 (2) Screening patients for substance abuse is 

23 not a common practice among dentists, according to 

24 several peer-reviewed articles published in the ‘‘Jour25 nal of the American Dental Association’’. Limited 


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1 time, inadequate training, and the potential for 

2 alienating patients are among the reasons often 

3 cited. 

4 (3) Dentists receive little formal education and 

5 training in screening patients for substance abuse, 

6 discussing the nature of addiction as it relates to 

7 oral health and dental care, and facilitating appro8 priate help for patients, and family members of pa9 tients, who are affected by a substance use disorder. 

10 (4) The American Dental Association maintains 

11 that dentists should be knowledgeable about sub12 stance use disorders in order to safely administer 

13 and prescribe controlled substances and other medi14 cations. The American Dental Association further 

15 recommends that dentists become familiar with their 

16 community’s substance abuse treatment resources 

17 and be able to make referrals when indicated. 

18 (5) Training can greatly increase the degree to 

19 which dentists, allied dental personnel, and other 

20 health professionals can screen patients for sub21 stance abuse, discuss the nature of addiction as it 

22 relates to oral health and dental care, and facilitate 

23 appropriate help for patients, and family members of 

24 patients, who are affected by a substance use dis25 order. 


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1 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 

2 for enhanced training and technical assistance to ensure 

3 that dentists and allied dental personnel are able to recog4 nize the signs of substance abuse in their patients, discuss 

5 the nature of addiction as it relates to oral health and 

6 dental care, and facilitate appropriate help for patients, 

7 and family members of patients, who are affected by a 

8 substance use disorder. 

9 (c) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this title: 

10 (1) ALLIED DENTAL PERSONNEL.—The term 

11 ‘‘allied dental personnel’’ means individuals who as12 sist the dentist in the provision of oral health care 

13 services to patients, including dental assistants, den14 tal hygienists, and dental laboratory technicians who 

15 are employed in dental offices or other patient care 

16 facilities. 

17 (2) CONTINUING EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘con18 tinuing education’’ means extracurricular learning 

19 activities (including classes, lecture series, con20 ferences, workshops, seminars, correspondence 

21 courses, and other programs) whose purpose is to in22 corporate the latest advances in science, clinical, and 

23 professional knowledge into the practice of health 

24 care (and whose completion is often a condition of 

25 professional licensing). 


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1 (3) CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT.—The 

2 term ‘‘continuing education credit’’ means a unit of 

3 study that is used to officially certify or recognize 

4 the successful completion of an activity that is con5 sistent with professional standards for continuing 

6 education. 

7 SEC. 302. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TRAINING FOR DENTAL PRO8 FESSIONALS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out title V of the Pub10 lic Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290 et seq.), the Admin11 istrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Serv12 ices Administration shall support training and offer tech13 nical assistance to ensure that dentists and allied dental 

14 personnel are prepared to— 

15 (1) recognize signs of alcohol or drug addiction 

16 in their patients and the family members of their pa17 tients; 

18 (2) discuss the nature of substance abuse as it 

19 relates to their area of expertise; 

20 (3) understand how certain dental therapies can 

21 affect the relapse potential of substance dependent 

22 patients; and 

23 (4) help those affected by a substance use dis24 order to find appropriate treatment for their condi25 tion. 


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1 (b) CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.—The Ad2 ministrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

3 Services Administration may collaborate with professional 

4 accrediting bodies— 

5 (1) to develop and support substance abuse 

6 training courses for oral health professionals; and 

7 (2) to encourage that the activities described in 

8 paragraph (1) be recognized for continuing edu9 cation purposes. 

10 SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

11 There are authorized to be appropriated for the pur12 pose of carrying out this title, $500,000 for each of fiscal 

13 years 2009 through 2011. Amounts authorized to be ap14 propriated under this section are in addition to any other 

15 amounts authorized to be appropriated for such purpose. 

Æ 


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