Senator Gary Peters

WASHINGTON DC – The bipartisan Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act was signed into law to reauthorize federal funding for numerous opioid prevention, education, coverage, and treatment programs to help address the ongoing opioid epidemic that has devastated communities in Michigan and across the country. The legislation includes a provision led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), based off his Youth Prevention and Recovery Reauthorization Act, to reauthorize funding specifically for the Youth Prevention and Recovery Initiative. Peters established this initiative through legislation he authored into law in 2018 to make existing substance use treatment programs available for young adults. Peters’ provision will ensure this critical resource remains available to adolescents, families, care providers, and communities.

“The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities in Michigan and across the country,” said Senator Peters.”This is especially true among our youth. Right now, there are hundreds of thousands of young people in need of care for opioid addiction. That’s why I’m thrilled to see this commonsense legislation signed into law to protect lifesaving addiction resources for our youth, and all Americans, to help set them on a path towards recovery.”

The Youth Prevention and Recovery Initiative provides funding to hospitals, local governments, and other eligible entities to increase access to opioid addiction treatment for adolescents and young adults who have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder. This program improves local awareness among youth and their families of the risks associated with fentanyl, and also trains healthcare providers, and school personnel on the best practices to support children and adolescents with opioid use disorder.

Peters’ provision in the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act reauthorizes the Youth Prevention and Recovery Initiative and provides grants to youth-focused organizations to carry out substance use disorder treatment, prevention, and recovery support services.