One of the ways in which jurisdictions are combating the epidemic of drug overdoses in communities is through the use of “spike alerts,” that is, targeted messages that notify recipients that there is an unexpected increase in drug-related overdoses in a specific area. The purpose of these notifications is to “reduce injury or death from opioid overdoses during spike events.” ...
The Model Law Enforcement Event Deconfliction Act is intended to implement procedures across the country to safeguard law enforcement from incidents of “friendly fire.” The Act requires that law enforcement personnel utilize event deconfliction software, which will notify them of any potential conflicts with other law enforcement activity in the same area, including service of arrest or search warrants, surveillance operations, or other high-risk or specialized law enforcement activities. The Act further requires that law enforcement personnel take positive action upon being notified by the event deconfliction system of a conflict and provides penalties for failure to take such action. The Act was drafted with the invaluable assistance of members of the law enforcement community....
Smaller than a pencil, and using the same technology as an at-home pregnancy test, fentanyl test strips are disposable, single-use tests that can detect the presence of fentanyl or fentanyl analogs in a substance. This fact sheet sets forth how fentanyl test strips work as a drug checking tool, how they can mitigate risks to people with substance use disorder, and the current challenges with their legality....
In recent years, some states have enacted Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access laws to help reduce overdose deaths and respond to opioid overdoses.The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 included a provision for GAO to review these laws. This report addresses the following: (1) the efforts ONDCP has taken to collect and disseminate information on Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access laws, (2) the extent to which states, territories, and D.C. have these laws and the characteristics of them, and (3) what research indicates concerning the effects of Good Samaritan laws.To answer these questions, GAO collected and reviewed ONDCP documents and interviewed agency officials. GAO also reviewed and analyzed selected characteristics of jurisdictions' Good Samaritan and Naloxone Access laws. Further, GAO conducted a literature review of empirical studies published from 2010 through May 2020 that examined the effects of Good Samaritan laws....
After domestic production of methamphetamine increased significantly in the 1990s, federal and state authorities took action to address the hazardous conditions left behind in meth labs. Congress passed legislation directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish meth decontamination guidelines based on the best available scientific knowledge. Today, the synthetic opioid fentanyl and its analogues cause over twice as many overdose deaths in the United States yearly as meth. Its effects, though similar to morphine or heroin, are 50 to 100 times more powerful, making even small amounts dangerous to users and bystanders alike. Despite this, as of 2021, the scale of federal and state action on fentanyl cleanup is not comparable to that historically taken against meth labs. Fentanyl is a relative newcomer to the scene of illicit drugs in the United States, so scientific authorities and policymakers have had less time to address the issue of clean up. In the interim, the lack of authoritative guidance and policy creates risks, as outlined in this fact sheet....
The mission of the Maury County Prevention Coalition is to promote healthy family relationships, emotional wellness, and the prevention of alcohol, drug use, and other risky behavior by youth through parent education, dynamic youth programs, and engagement with key community stakeholders. ...
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are “substances of abuse, either in pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled by [international drug conventions], but which may pose a public health threat.” The term “new” (or “novel” in some publications) does not denote a brand new, never-before-seen substance, but a substance that is newly available in the drug market. NPS is a catch-all phrase that includes substances like bath salts, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic opioids, synthetic cathinones, and other drugs of abuse that are not currently scheduled or controlled. This fact sheet provides general information about new and emerging drugs of abuse....
This fact sheet provides information about the Pay for Success Funding Initiatives, which involve, at a minimum, four parties: (1) the service provider/social program; (2) an investor or investors; (3) an independent evaluator; and (4) a traditional funder or “outcomes payor,” usually a branch of federal, state, or local government....
The Model Recovery Residence Certification Act is designed to implement a voluntary certification process for recovery residences in a state. The purpose of certification is to allow for greater oversight of recovery residences and greater protection of recovery home residents. As currently drafted, the Model Act allows either a state agency designated by the state or an approved certifying organization under contract with the state agency to certify recovery residences under the program outlined in the Act. The Act also addresses the zoning issues that have arisen in local jurisdictions around the country....
The Model Overdose Fatality Review Teams Act creates a legislative framework for establishing county-level, multidisciplinary overdose fatality review (OFR) teams in individual states. While overdose deaths occur nationally, OFRs established at the local level allow for the identification of and responses to specific local patterns related to drug overdoses. This model act addresses the duties, responsibilities, and composition of OFR teams in order for them to properly examine and understand the circumstances leading up to a fatal overdose....