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Federal

Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov  ·  1,734 words in original text
This bill updates federal laws about residential treatment programs for substance use disorders (addiction to drugs or alcohol) in prisons and jails. The bill requires that these programs can use medications approved by the government to treat addiction and that staff receive training on how to provide this treatment.
Prisons and jails that receive federal funding for treatment programs. Chief medical officers and staff at these facilities. People incarcerated in prisons and jails. State governments that distribute federal funding to local correctional facilities.
• Residential treatment programs must be allowed to use any medication approved by the government to treat substance use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment programs (Sec. 2(a)(1)(II)) • Staff at prisons and jails receiving federal funds must complete training on addiction science, medication treatment, detoxification (removing drugs from the body), and how to help people stay on medication after release (Sec. 2(a)(3)(E)) • Any prison or jail offering medication-assisted treatment must have a partnership with a provider who can prescribe medication to people after they are released (Sec. 2(a)(3)(h)) • States must give at least 10 percent of their federal funding to local jails and correction facilities (Sec. 2(a)(4)(A)) • States can use funding to pay for overdose reversal medications and to obtain required certifications for prescribing addiction treatment medications (Sec. 2(a)(4)(B))
The bill replaces the term "substance abuse" with "substance use disorder" throughout the law. It requires that residential treatment programs use at least one approved medication or treatment for substance use disorders. It establishes new training requirements for medical staff at prisons and jails. It requires partnerships between facilities and outside providers to ensure people get medications after release. It authorizes $40,000,000 per year from 2023 through 2027 for these programs.
Medication-assisted treatment: A treatment plan combining behavioral therapy (counseling) with an approved medication to treat substance use disorders. Residential substance use disorder treatment program: Individual and group addiction treatment services in residential treatment facilities that follow guidelines published by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in November 2017 or as updated later.
Not specified in bill text
Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.