September 23, 2021
Opioid/Substance Use Disorders
  • In observation of National Recovery Month, Third Horizon Strategies convened a virtual Capitol Hill briefing on September 21 to discuss President Biden’s FY2022 request for a 10 percent Recovery Support Service Set-Aside in the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant with lawmakers and administration officials. Over 200 individuals from across the country attended the briefing, which featured a robust discussion about the value of recovery support services in communities and opportunities to expand and scale these promising practices that can help save lives. Learn more about the event and view a recording here!
  • A new survey found that 17 percent of Americans reported drinking heavily during the pandemic. The survey defined “heavy drinking” as having two days a week where a woman drank more than four drinks or a man drank more than five drinks. Those who said they drank heavily in the past year also reported a decline in mental, psychosocial, and physical health. (Article here)
  • An NIH study found that methamphetamine-related overdose death rates in adults between ages 18 and 64 nearly tripled from 2015 to 2019. According to the research, the number of people using methamphetamine increased by only 43 percent in four years. However, overdose deaths from psychostimulant drugs other than cocaine, most of were attributed to methamphetamine use, simultaneously increased by 180 percent. The report also showed that more diverse groups were struggling with methamphetamine use disorder. (Press release here; Article here)