[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 61 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Hassan, and 
        Mr. Blumenthal):
  S. 2678. A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 
of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to 
publish and disseminate best practices for operating recovery housing, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President. As the opioid epidemic continues to 
challenge the Nation, the statistics on this public health crisis show 
the toll it is taking on communities across the country. In Virginia in 
2016, there were over 1,400 deaths from overdoses, a 38 percent 
increase over 2015. Eighty percent of these deaths involved opioid use. 
Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in 
Virginia, surpassing car accidents and gun violence.
  While we must focus on prevention and treatment to stem the tide of 
addiction and overdose deaths, it is also critical that our efforts 
include helping people recover from addiction and return to their 
families, the workforce, and their lives. That includes improved access 
and oversight Medication Assisted Treatment, wraparound services like 
peer recovery supports, and ensuring that ``recovery residences'' are 
safe.
  After treatment, many people in the early recovery stages choose to 
enter recovery residences. These facilities give people a stable and 
sober environment as they transition back into society. While these 
residences are growing in number due to the epidemic, we are learning 
that these facilities often lack oversight or regulation. There have 
been deaths at recovery residences due to the lack of trained 
professionals and standards.
  Currently, no national standards or guidelines are in place to ensure 
that recovery homes are providing a safe environment. This situation 
leaves families and victims in the dark about whether the facility that 
is looking after their loved one is qualified. The bill I am 
introducing today would authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop best practices for recovery 
living facilities. It would also authorize SAMHSA to provide technical 
assistance and support to States willing to adopt best practices. 
Additionally, the bill would require States that use SAMHSA grants for 
recovery residences to meet established best practices, direct SAMHSA 
to provide best practice information directly to patients and ensure 
that SAMHSA consults with other relevant Federal agencies on drafting 
guidelines.
  I would like to thank Senator Warren and our other cosponsors for 
working on this legislation, and Congresswoman Chu for championing 
legislation on this topic in the House.

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