Information Resources for Policy

2022 National Drug Control Strategy

Outlines federal drug policy priorities and promotes short and long-term solutions to reduce drug use, overdose, and other related harms in the U.S. Priorities include: expanding access to medication for opioid use disorder and other evidence-based treatment; advancing racial equity in drug policy; enhancing harm reduction efforts; supporting youth substance use prevention; reducing the supply of illicit substances; advancing recovery-ready workplaces; and expanding addiction workforce and access to recovery support services. Includes strategies to address substance use issues in rural and underserved communities.

Date: 2022
Sponsor: Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
Biden-Harris Administration's Statement of Drug Policy Priorities for Year One

Identifies and describes the following 7 drug policy priorities for the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration: expanding access to evidence-based treatment; advancing racial equity issues in drug policy; enhancing evidenced-based harm reduction efforts; supporting evidence-based prevention efforts to reduce youth substance use; reducing the supply of illicit substances; advancing recovery-ready workplaces and increasing the addiction workforce; and expanding access to recovery support services. Outlines next steps for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to coordinate with other federal agencies to address drug policy priorities.

Date: 03/2021
Sponsor: Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
CMS Roadmap: Strategy to Fight the Opioid Crisis

Describes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities to address the opioid epidemic related to prevention, treatment, and data. Highlights program successes, innovative approaches, and future goals of CMS efforts to address the opioid crisis.

Date: 06/2020
Sponsor: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Conversations with Rural Law Enforcement Leaders – Volume 1

Summarizes key focus areas, needs, and recommendations of underrepresented rural and tribal law enforcement leaders in 5 states that were the result of a series of listening sessions with federal agencies. Includes topics such as substance use, mental health, and homelessness; illicit drugs; trafficking from the southern border; relationships with tribes; and funding, among others. Provides individual state summaries and U.S. Department of Justice resources to support local efforts to enhance public safety and reduce crime in rural and tribal areas.

Date: 2020
Sponsors: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)
Conversations with Rural Law Enforcement Leaders – Volume 2

Summarizes key focus areas, needs, and recommendations of underrepresented rural and tribal law enforcement leaders in 9 states that were the result of a series of listening sessions with federal agencies. Includes topics such as substance use and addiction; mental health and medical care; illegal drug trafficking and related crime; school safety; and funding, among others. Describes ongoing federal responses to rural law enforcement concerns and highlights several best practices and new ideas to support local efforts to enhance public safety and reduce crime in rural and tribal areas.

Date: 2021
Sponsors: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)
Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America

Provides an overview of a ten-year U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative, starting in fiscal year (FY) 2020, to end the epidemic of HIV, which remains a significant public health issue in America. Outlines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) role in the initiative, working with national, state, and local partners in efforts to diagnose, treat, and prevent new HIV infections, and respond to potential HIV outbreaks. Aims to jump start progress on reducing HIV and prevent a resurgence of the disease across the country. Includes national HIV data snapshots and links to other federal resources on a range of HIV-related topics.

Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Indian Health Service (IHS) Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS)

Provides an overview of Indian Health Service's (IHS) Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS) which is responsible for developing and managing clinical, preventive, and public health programs for IHS that cover a wide range of services, including alcohol and substance use and other behavioral health programs. Serves as an advocate for Native American health issues at the national level. Sets policy and budget priorities for IHS Area Offices and health facilities. Offers technical support to local clinical and preventive health programs.

Sponsor: Indian Health Service (IHS)
Medicare Coverage of Services in Opioid Treatment Programs

Describes a benefit that covers opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment services under Medicare Part B medical insurance. Enables the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make bundled payments to certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs) for OUD treatment services for an episode of care provided to Medicare Part B beneficiaries. Covers the following services under the benefit: opioid agonist and antagonist medication-assisted treatment (MAT) medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), naloxone and overdose education, substance use counseling, individual and group therapy, toxicology testing, intake activities, and periodic assessments.

Sponsor: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
New Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) Policy on Opioid Medications

Shares a policy, effective September 23, 2019, whereby injured federal workers receiving workers' compensation that are newly prescribed opioids will be limited to an initial 7-day supply. Allows an injured worker to receive a maximum of 4 sequential 7-day supply prescriptions, an initial and 3 subsequent prescriptions, for a total of 28 days before prior authorization is required. For additional opioid prescriptions exceeding the initial 28-day period, the prescribing physician will need to submit a form certifying the medical necessity of continued opioid use for approval from the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP).

Sponsor: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
Opioid Policy Four-Point Strategic Plan to Protect Federal Injured Workers

Describes a 4-point strategic plan to protect injured federal workers covered under the Federal Employee's Compensation Act from the risk of opioid misuse and addiction. Includes details on these policy initiatives and their progress, information on any new policies, as well as a discussion of opioid facts and risk factors for opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose, and links to additional resources.

Sponsor: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach: A Guide for Policymakers for Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies That Address Opioid Overdose

Provides guidance to policymakers, communities, and key stakeholders to develop and implement system- and practice-level changes to reduce opioid overdose deaths. Presents results from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative's HEALing Communities Study. Outlines priority populations and 19 evidence-based interventions to prevent and reduce opioid related overdose deaths. Offers resources on various topics related opioid overdose and highlights model programs, including those serving rural areas.

Date: 2023
Sponsors: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Overdose Prevention Strategy

Details the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services strategy to respond to drug overdoses and prevent overdose deaths across the U.S. Shares research, resources, and evidence-informed overdose interventions focused on 4 priority areas: primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support. Offers strategies and resources designed to increase coordination among key stakeholders, reduce stigma, and expand access to healthcare and treatment for underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
SAMHSA Office of Recovery

Serves as a national clearinghouse for recovery-oriented care to address substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. Promotes collaboration across key sectors to more effectively integrate recovery into systems of care, increase recovery services, and reduce barriers to recovery for underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA Strategic Plan: Fiscal Year 2023-2026

Presents the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) 4-year strategic plan detailing the agency's guiding principles, priorities, goals, and objectives to address behavioral health needs in the U.S. Focuses on 5 key areas: preventing substance use and overdose; access to suicide prevention and mental health services; promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and families; integrating behavioral and physical healthcare; and strengthening behavioral health workforce. Emphasizes behavioral health equity for underserved and/or historically marginalized populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Date: 08/2023
Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
What is "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America"?

Provides an overview of a 10-year U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative, that started in fiscal year (FY) 2020, to end the HIV epidemic in America. Highlights how the initiative was developed, lists its target goals, and discusses the plan focusing on 57 priority jurisdictions, including 7 states with high rates of rural HIV diagnoses, where more than 50% of new HIV diagnoses occurred in 2016 and 2017. Includes key strategies, data, and tools utilized by the initiative.

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services