TITLE II—METH MOUTH 
RESEARCH INVESTMENT ACT 
SEC. 201. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) As the number of regular methamphetamine 
users has increased, so has a peculiar set of dental 
problems linked to the drug. The condition (known 
as ‘‘meth mouth’’) develops rapidly and is attributed 
to the drug’s acidic nature, its ability to dry the 
mouth, the tendency of users to grind and clench 
their teeth, and a drug-induced craving for sugar- 
laden soft drinks. 
(2) Meth mouth is regarded by many as an an-
ecdotal phenomenon. Few peer-reviewed studies have 
been published that examine its causes, its physical 
effects, its prevalence, or its public health costs. 
(3) Enhanced research would help to identify 
the prevalence and scope of meth mouth. Such re-
search would also help determine how substances of 
abuse can damage the teeth and other oral tissues, 
and offer the possibility of developing new and im-
proved prevention, harm-reduction, and cost man-
agement strategies. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 
for enhanced research examining all aspects of meth 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
mouth, including its causes, its public health impact, inno-
vative models for its prevention, and new and improved 
methods for its treatment. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this title: 
(1) CLINICAL
RESEARCH; HEALTH
SERVICES 
RESEARCH.—The terms ‘‘clinical research’’ and 
‘‘health services research’’ shall have the meanings 
given to such terms in section 409 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d). 
(2) INDIAN; INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZA-
TION.—The terms ‘‘Indian’’, ‘‘Indian tribe’’, and 
‘‘tribal organization’’ shall 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). 
(3) METH MOUTH.—The term ‘‘meth mouth’’ 
means a distinct and often severe pattern of oral 
decay that is commonly associated with meth-
amphetamine use. 
(4) PUBLIC
HEALTH
RESEARCH.—The term 
‘‘public health research’’ means research that fo-
cuses on population-based health measures. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(6) SUBSTANCE
USE
DISORDER.—The term 
‘‘substance use disorder’’ means any harmful pat-
tern of alcohol or drug use that leads to clinically 
significant impairment in physical, psychological, 
interpersonal, or vocational functioning. 
SEC. 
202. 
RESEARCH 
ON 
SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE, 
ORAL 
HEALTH, AND DENTAL CARE. 
(a) EXPANSION OF ACTIVITY.—In carrying out part 
A of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
241 et seq.), the Secretary shall expand and intensify the 
clinical research, health services research, and public 
health research on associations between substance use dis-
orders, oral health, and the provision of dental care. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary— 
(1) may enter into contracts or agreements with 
other Federal agencies, including interagency agree-
ments, to delegate authority for the execution of 
grants and for such other activities as may be nec-
essary to carry out this section; 
(2) may carry out this section directly or 
through grants or cooperative agreements with 
State, local, and territorial units of government, In-
dian tribes, and tribal organizations, or other public 
or nonprofit private entities; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(3) may request and use such information, 
data, and reports from any Federal, State, local, or 
private entity as may be required to carry out this 
section, with the consent of such entity. 
SEC. 203. STUDY OF METHAMPHETAMINE-RELATED ORAL 
HEALTH COSTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 202, the 
Secretary shall conduct a study to determine whether, 
how, and to what degree methamphetamine use affects the 
demand for (and provision of) dental care. The study shall 
account for both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and 
subgroups), and persons of all ages and from all geo-
graphic areas as appropriate for the scientific goals of the 
research. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a spe-
cial report detailing the results of the study described in 
subsection (a), with findings that address— 
(1) the prevalence and severity of oral health 
problems believed to be associated with methamphet-
amine use; 
(2) the criteria most commonly used to deter-
mine whether a patient’s oral health problems are 
associated with methamphetamine use; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
(3) the therapies most commonly used to treat 
patients with meth mouth; 
(4) the clinical prognosis for patients who re-
ceived care for meth mouth; and 
(5) the financial impact of meth mouth on pub-
licly financed dental programs. 
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out this 
title for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2011. Amounts 
authorized to be appropriated under this section are in 
addition to any other amounts authorized to be appro-
priated for such purpose. 
TITLE 
III—SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE 
EDUCATION 
FOR 
DENTAL 
PROFESSIONALS 
SEC. 301. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The use of certain therapeutic agents in 
dental treatment can jeopardize the health and af-
fect the relapse potential of patients with substance 
use disorders. 
(2) Screening patients for substance abuse is 
not a common practice among dentists, according to 
several peer-reviewed articles published in the ‘‘Jour-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
nal of the American Dental Association’’. Limited 
time, inadequate training, and the potential for 
alienating patients are among the reasons often 
cited. 
(3) Dentists receive little formal education and 
training in screening patients for substance abuse, 
discussing the nature of addiction as it relates to 
oral health and dental care, and facilitating appro-
priate help for patients, and family members of pa-
tients, who are affected by a substance use disorder. 
(4) The American Dental Association maintains 
that dentists should be knowledgeable about sub-
stance use disorders in order to safely administer 
and prescribe controlled substances and other medi-
cations. The American Dental Association further 
recommends that dentists become familiar with their 
community’s substance abuse treatment resources 
and be able to make referrals when indicated. 
(5) Training can greatly increase the degree to 
which dentists, allied dental personnel, and other 
health professionals can screen patients for sub-
stance abuse, discuss the nature of addiction as it 
relates to oral health and dental care, and facilitate 
appropriate help for patients, and family members of 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
patients, who are affected by a substance use dis-
order. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to provide 
for enhanced training and technical assistance to ensure 
that dentists and allied dental personnel are able to recog-
nize the signs of substance abuse in their patients, discuss 
the nature of addiction 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 
substance use disorder. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this title: 
(1) ALLIED
DENTAL
PERSONNEL.—The term 
‘‘allied dental personnel’’ means individuals who as-
sist the dentist in the provision of oral health care 
services to patients, including dental assistants, den-
tal hygienists, and dental laboratory technicians who 
are employed in dental offices or other patient care 
facilities. 
(2) CONTINUING EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘con-
tinuing education’’ means extracurricular learning 
activities (including classes, lecture series, con-
ferences, 
workshops, 
seminars, 
correspondence 
courses, and other programs) whose purpose is to in-
corporate the latest advances in science, clinical, and 
professional knowledge into the practice of health 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
02:44 Jul 28, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3186.IH
H3186
bajohnson on PROD1PC69 with BILLS