Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) have announced their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide families with the tools they need to support their loved ones living with addiction.
The Family Support Services for Addiction Act would provide $25 million in grant funding to help nonprofits and community organizations provide support services to families with loved ones seeking addiction treatment. The House version of this bill is led by Representatives David Trone (D-MD-6) and Daniel Meuser (R-PA-9).
Healthcare providers and hospitals across New York are still dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of patients needing treatment for substance use disorders continues to rise. According to the CDC, there were an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2021, an increase of nearly 15% from the 93,655 estimated deaths in 2020. Even before the pandemic, families with individuals who have a substance use disorder often struggled to access basic support services. Even when services are offered, they often come at an additional cost.
“Equipping families with the resources they need to support loved ones battling addiction and substance use disorder is essential for recovery. Unfortunately, getting support can be difficult as people face stigma, a lack of insurance coverage, racial disparities, and an inability to pay for support services,” said Senator Gillibrand. “My Family Support Services for Addiction Act would deliver $25 million in vital funding for financially strained mental health care and substance use disorder support programs and ensure resources are available to families helping people recover from substance use.”
“The past few years have been tough on all of us, but especially for those in addiction treatment and recovery, as well as their families,” Senator Capito said. “This bipartisan legislation will hopefully provide family members with the support, resources, and information they need to assist both their loved ones struggling with substance use disorders and all within their family who are impacted by it.”
