Controlled Substances

September 28, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Innovative Initiatives, K-12 Education, Peer Support and Recovery Services, Recovery, Substance Use Disorder, Treatments

Denver, Colorado’s Department of Public Health & Environment created its adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, Education, and Prevention (STEP) Program to respond to the growing need for therapeutic support for young adults struggling with substance use. Since its inception in the early 2020s, the program has treated hundreds of young people suffering from mental health and substance use disorders....

June 15, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Innovative Initiatives, Peer Support and Recovery Services, Recovery, Substance Use Disorder, Treatments

Nationwide, new initiatives have arisen to assist with pet care while people are in treatment. These programs often provide important reassurance to individuals seeking treatment that their pets will be taken care of while they are taking care of themselves. Many pet fostering volunteers have lived experience with substance use disorder and treatment, and working with animals can be helpful for their own recovery....

June 8, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement, Legal & Legislative Research, Opioids, Public Health, Public Safety, Sharps/Syringes, Substance Misuse

Syringe services programs (SSP) are harm reduction programs that provide a wide range of services including, but not typically limited to, the provision of new, unused hypodermic needles and syringes and other injection drug use supplies, such as cookers, tourniquets, alcohol wipes, and sharps waste disposal containers, to people who inject drugs. In this summary, readers will find information with respect to SSPs for each state, including citations to applicable statutes and/or regulations, whether the state allows SSPs by statute, whether there are any municipal or county ordinances or regulations in place within the state, program components, miscellaneous provisions, and information on any pending legislation....

May 19, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Peer Support and Recovery Services, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Toolkits, Treatments

In February 2026, the International Healthcare Facility Diversion Association released a toolkit developed by its Substance Use Recovery and Support Steering Committee, designed to provide best practices and ethical considerations for supporting healthcare professionals (HCPs) in recovery. This resource is intended for use by entities supporting HCPs in recovery from substance use with the potential to return to safe practice....

May 14, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Model Laws, Opioids, Public Health, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Treatments

Drafted in partnership with the O'Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center, the Center for U.S. Policy, and Brown & Weinraub, PLLC, this model law assists states in their efforts to maximize funds available to address the overdose crisis. The Model Opioid Litigation Proceeds Act guides states through the establishment of a dedicated fund, separate from the state’s general treasury fund, that is designated for substance use disorder abatement, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction infrastructure, programs, services, supports, and resources. All proceeds received by the state arising out of legal claims made against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioid analgesics, pharmacies that dispensed prescription opioid analgesics, and related parties shall be deposited into the dedicated fund....

April 17, 2026 | Fact Sheets, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Opioids, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association is monitoring the emergence of novel psychoactive substances appearing on the illicit drug market in the United States. The term “novel” does not denote a new, never-before-seen substance but rather a substance that is newly available in the drug market. This fact examines orphines, a class of potent synthetic opioids. Orphines are a class of synthetic opioids first developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the 1960s, discovered to have anesthetic properties. Drug policy experts believe that orphines are originating from clandestine laboratories in China and that their sudden rise in the illicit drug market is an attempt by clandestine chemists and international drug trafficking organizations to avoid international legal and regulatory barriers. The high potency of orphines demonstrates the need for enhanced surveillance, increased testing capabilities, and timely public health alerts. ...

February 27, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Harm Reduction, Model Laws, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Substance Use Disorder

The Model Addressing Drug Diversion in Healthcare Settings Act (1) requires healthcare entities to establish policies and procedures for the prevention and detection of drug diversion by healthcare professionals and to ensure that treatment and recovery support services are offered to eligible healthcare professionals; (2) requires certain individuals and entities to report healthcare professionals suspected of misusing drugs and/or alcohol, diverting drugs for personal use, having an untreated substance use disorder, or practicing while impaired and to establish penalties for failure to make such reports; (3) requires boards, as defined in this Act, to establish or participate in an alternative to discipline program for eligible healthcare professionals; (4) establishes legal protections for individuals who make reports as required by this Act; (5) provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for specified individuals and entities for actions taken pursuant to this Act; (6) establishes penalties for healthcare entities that fail to take corrective action after discovering diversion by a healthcare professional; (7) establishes program reporting and audit requirements; (8) establishes technology grants for healthcare entities to be used for the prevention and detection of drug diversion; and (9) establishes funding provisions for alternative to discipline programs....

February 5, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Kratom, Legal & Legislative Research, Opioids, Substance Misuse

Kratom is an herb derived from a leafy Southeast Asian tree and contains two psychoactive compounds that can bind to opioid receptors in the brain and produce a pharmacological response similar to effects produced by other opioid agonists, such as morphine. As of January 2026, 30 states and the District of Columbia regulate kratom. This document: (1) provides a singular resource for each jurisdiction’s laws; (2) allows for a comparison of these laws between jurisdictions; and (3) identifies and highlights interesting provisions....

January 23, 2026 | Controlled Substances, Innovative Initiatives, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Opioids, Peer Support and Recovery Services, Prescription Drugs, Recovery, Reentry, Substance Misuse, Substance Use Disorder

Ryther, a nonprofit mental health service provider for children, teens, and young adults in Seattle, Washington, provides therapeutic services to youth struggling with mental and behavioral health issues, including substance use disorder (SUD). As part of its menu of services for SUD treatment, Ryther offers medication for addiction treatment (MAT) for those aged 12 to 25 who have opioid use disorder (OUD), making the program unique in focusing on young people. Ryther’s MAT program provides holistic treatment that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social challenges faced by children and young adults with SUD. Many of the participants in Ryther’s MAT program are homeless or experiencing housing instability, and the program is designed to provide these individuals with low barrier resources and support....

December 23, 2025 | Fact Sheets, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association is monitoring the emergence of novel psychoactive substances appearing on the illicit drug market in the United States. The term “novel” does not denote a new, never-before-seen substance but rather a substance that is newly available in the drug market. This fact sheet, an UPDATE in a series highlighting these dangerous drugs, examines tianeptine, an unapproved drug commonly sold in gas stations and on the internet as a dietary supplement and causes opioid-like withdrawals....