Emergency Support for Substance Use Disorders Act
Bill: H.R.706 | Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. (D-NH)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Emergency Support for Substance Use Disorders Act
This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to states, other jurisdictions, and community-based entities for harm reduction activities to address drug misuse during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

To authorize grants to address substance use during COVID-19.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency Support for Substance Use 
Disorders Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2018, an estimated 164,800,000 people aged 12 or 
        older in the United States, or 60.2 percent of such population, 
        were substance users (including, tobacco, alcohol, or illicit 
        drugs) in the last month.
            (2) In 2018, nearly 1 in 5 people aged 12 or older in the 
        United States, or 19.4 percent of such population, used an 
        illicit drug in the past year, which is a higher percentage 
        than in 2015 and 2016.
            (3) In 2018, an estimated 10,300,000 people aged 12 or 
        older in the United States misused opioids in the past year, 
        including 9,900,000 prescription pain reliever misusers and 
        808,000 heroin users.
            (4) In 2017, overdose deaths involving opioids in the 
        United States, including fentanyl, was 6 times higher than in 
        1999.
            (5) The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving 
        synthetic opioids in the United States other than methadone 
        increased by 10 percent from 2017 to 2018.
            (6) In 2018, approximately 20,300,000 people aged 12 or 
        older in the United States had a substance use disorder related 
        to their use of alcohol or illicit drugs in the past year.
            (7) In 2018, an estimated 21,200,000 people aged 12 or 
        older in the United States needed substance use treatment.
            (8) According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
        Services Administration, COVID-19 will certainly contribute to 
        growth in the numbers referred to in the preceding paragraphs. 
        Individuals across the United States will struggle with 
        increases in depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief. There is 
        also anticipated increase in substance misuse in the United 
        States as lives are impacted for individuals and families.

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM ON HARMS OF DRUG MISUSE.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and 
Substance Use (referred to in this section as the ``Assistant 
Secretary''), in consultation with the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants to States, political 
subdivisions of States, Tribes, Tribal organizations, and community-
based entities to support the delivery of overdose prevention, syringe 
services programs, and other harm reduction services that address the 
harms of drug misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, including by--
            (1) preventing and controlling the spread of infectious 
        diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, and the 
        consequences of such diseases for individuals with substance 
        use disorder;
            (2) distributing opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, to 
        individuals at risk of overdose;
            (3) connecting individuals at risk for, or with, a 
        substance use disorder to overdose education, counseling, and 
        health education; and
            (4) encouraging such individuals to take steps to reduce 
        the negative personal and public health impacts of substance 
        use or misuse during the emergency period.
    (b) Considerations.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Assistant Secretary shall prioritize grants to applicants that are--
            (1) culturally specific organizations, Tribal behavioral 
        health and substance use disorder providers, or organizations 
        that are intentional about serving populations where COVID-19 
        has had the most impact; or
            (2) proposing to serve areas with--
                    (A) a higher proportion of the population who meet 
                criteria for dependence on, or abuse of, illicit drugs;
                    (B) a higher drug overdose death rate;
                    (C) a greater telemedicine infrastructure need; and
                    (D) a greater behavioral health and substance use 
                disorder workforce need.
    (c) Use of Grant Awards.--A recipient of a grant under this section 
may use such grant funds for the following purposes:
            (1) Adapt, maintain, and expand essential services provided 
        by harm reduction service organizations to address the risks of 
        COVID-19, drug overdose, and contraction of infectious disease.
            (2) Maintain or hire staff.
            (3) Support program operational costs, including staff, 
        rent, and vehicle purchase or maintenance.
            (4) Program supplies.
            (5) Hygiene and personal protective equipment for both 
        staff and program participants.
            (6) Support and case management services.
    (d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``emergency period'' has 
the meaning given to such term in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B)).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 
2021, to remain available until expended.
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