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IAVA Endorses S 459; Support for Substance Abuse Disorders Act
Posted by Tom Tarantino on February 27

IAVA has endorsed S 459, the Support for Substance Abuse Disorders Act;  providing comprehensive review and reform action the Armed Services Substance Abuse Systems.

According to the 2005 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Personnel, 24 percent of the members of the Armed Forces surveyed reported symptoms of alcohol dependence and nearly 11 percent of the members surveyed reported use of an illicit drug. Misuse of controlled prescription drugs, particularly narcotic painkillers, is a significant and growing problem among members of the Armed Forces as well.  While some commands and facilities in the Armed Forces provide outstanding services for members of the Armed Forces  for substance use disorders, the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and management of, and research on, substance use disorders in members of the Armed  Forces is inconsistent in availability, structure, and success among the various Armed Forces.

This bill addresses the problems in 3 ways.  First, it directs the DOD to develop a comprehensive plan on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of substance abuse disorders in member of the Armed Forces.  This plan will review and assess current capabilities and address: The availability of care through TRICARE, adequacy of DOD oversight of programs related to treatment and management, the adequacy of provider credentials, appropriateness of diagnostic protocols and their treatments, availability of care to members of the reserve forces, adequacy of current prevention measure currently in place, the need for confidentiality provisions to care, services for family members, participation of the Chain of Command, differentiation of disciplinary action and treatment, and coordination with other healthcare systems.  Second, it mandates an independent report on substance abuse disorders in members of the Armed Forces.  This study will require the Secretary of Defense to allow an agency such as the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study that covers all of the issues that were developed in the DOD’s plan.  Finally it establishes a center for excellence in the prevention diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and management of substance use disorders.

This bill represents a comprehensive and serious effort to tackle the problem of substance abuse in the Armed Forces.

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