I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1671 
To understand and comprehensively address the oral health problems 
associated with methamphetamine use. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 23, 2009 
Mr. LARSEN of Washington (for himself, Mr. SULLIVAN, Ms. WATERS, Mr. 
WU, Mr. GUTHRIE, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. SIMPSON, and Mr. SPACE) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce 
A BILL 
To understand and comprehensively address the oral health 
problems associated with methamphetamine use. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Meth Mouth Prevention and Community Recovery Act’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to investigate and report on all aspects of 
meth mouth, including its causes, public health im-
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pact, innovative models for its prevention, and new 
and improved methods for its treatment; 
(2) to ensure dentists and allied dental per-
sonnel are able to recognize the signs of substance 
abuse in their patients, discuss the nature of addic-
tion as it relates to oral health and dental care, and 
facilitate appropriate help for patients (and family 
members of patients) who are affected by a sub-
stance use disorder; 
(3) to determine whether, how, and to what de-
gree educating youth about meth mouth is an effec-
tive strategy for preventing or reducing the preva-
lence of methamphetamine use; and 
(4) to underscore the many ways that dentists 
and other oral health professionals can contribute to 
the general health of their patients, their commu-
nities, and the country as a whole. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
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. 
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Sec. 204. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE III—SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION FOR DENTAL 
PROFESSIONALS 
Sec. 301. Findings; purpose; definitions. 
Sec. 302. Substance abuse training for dental professionals. 
Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE I—EVIDENCE-BASED 
PREVENTION 
SEC. 101. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) According to the Substance Abuse and Men-
tal Health Services Administration, first-time meth-
amphetamine use is most likely to occur between the 
ages of 18 and 25. Prevention efforts must therefore 
begin during the teen years. 
(2) Most young people do not realize that meth-
amphetamine use can quickly leave their teeth black-
ened, stained, rotting, and crumbling or falling apart 
and that the treatment options are often limited. 
(3) By educating youth about meth mouth, oral 
health advocates can play a substantial role in help-
ing to prevent first-time methamphetamine use. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 
for a number of projects to evaluate whether, how, and 
to what degree educating youth about meth mouth is an 
effective strategy for preventing or reducing methamphet-
amine use. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 
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(1) ANTI-DRUG COALITION.—The term ‘‘anti- 
drug coalition’’ has the meaning given to the term 
‘‘eligible coalition’’ in section 1023 of the National 
Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 (21 U.S.C. 1523). 
(2) DENTAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘dental 
organization’’ means a group of persons organized to 
represent the art and science of dentistry or who are 
otherwise associated for the primary purpose of ad-
vancing the public’s oral health. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Pre-
vention. 
(4) 
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL; 
SECONDARY 
SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ have the meanings given to such 
terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(5) INDIAN; INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZA-
TION.—The terms ‘‘Indian’’, ‘‘Indian tribe’’, and 
‘‘tribal organization’’ have the meanings given to 
such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter-
mination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
450b). 
(6) METH MOUTH.—The term ‘‘meth mouth’’ 
means a distinct and often severe pattern of oral 
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