#USA #San Rafael #Alcohol Justice #SAMHSA #Federal Grants

Interconnectedness of Prevention Measures: Alcohol Justice's Call to Action

In light of the recent turmoil involving the sudden cancellation and reinstatement of $2 billion in federal behavioral health grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Alcohol Justice has expressed deep gratitude towards the lawmakers who successfully advocated for the reversal of this decision. This pivotal moment not only highlights the fragility of community health funding but also underscores the essential role of a well-supported and diverse community health infrastructure.

Miryom Yisrael, Executive Director of Alcohol Justice, stated, "We take pride in the work our elected officials did to protect our communities. We always expect them to rise to the occasion in times like this, when we vote to send them to Washington."

The crisis ignited when, on January 13 and 14, hundreds of organizations across the country receiving SAMHSA funding were abruptly informed that their activities were deemed misaligned with the Trump administration, leading to immediate cancellations. These abrupt notifications affected entities engaged in critical prevention and treatment roles, such as alcohol prevention among minors, substance use disorder treatment, opioid overdose prevention and intervention, suicide prevention strategies, mental health services, HIV prevention, and shelter services for the homeless.

This highly targeted funding is particularly vital for smaller, agile organizations, enabling them to tailor their services to communities that are frequently underserved by larger institutions. Subsequently, the smaller grants allotted by SAMHSA tend to have a disproportionate impact, especially on youth, seniors, and marginalized communities including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ populations, not to mention residents of predominantly rural areas.

Raul Verdugo, Director of Advocacy at Alcohol Justice, emphasized the significance of these grants, stating, "They empower organizations to serve under-resourced communities. Our senators' and representatives' swift action to restore funding highlights the importance of safeguarding these programs and listening to the individuals affected every day."

As reports surfaced of the chaotic day, it became clear that vigorous advocacy from constituents, coupled with lawmakers' genuine concern for their communities, persuaded the Department of Health and Human Services to reverse the proposed cuts. Despite the restoration of funds, the crisis revealed the extent to which American communities depend on local organizations for access to critical resources.

For Alcohol Justice, laws like the Synthetic Opioid Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act (STOP) are foundational in aiding a significant decrease in underage alcohol consumption since its enactment in 2006. Though Alcohol Justice has benefited from STOP funding previously, the $14.5 million allocated under this law constitutes a mere fraction of the total $2 billion funding pie.

However, every single dollar of this allocation is significant for alcohol consumption prevention, as alcohol impacts every aspect of community behavioral health. The connection is clear: investments in preventive measures and treatments improve community well-being and dignity.

For instance:

• - Individuals with substance use disorders often also contend with alcohol abuse disorders (AUD), which can be treated through medication-assisted strategies akin to opioid dependence treatment.
• - Alcohol consumption heightens the risk of overdose when mixed with opioids; in 2021 alone, alcohol was a contributing factor in 11,969 national opioid overdoses.
• - The risk of suicide spikes by 94% among those with a history of alcohol use.
• - Those diagnosed with mental health conditions are twice as likely to have an AUD as those without such a history.
• - Among young adults experiencing housing instability in Los Angeles, homelessness is not only a fallout of AUD but exacerbated by a lack of stable housing support.

The relationship between alcohol and numerous facets of prevention and treatment funded by SAMHSA cannot be ignored. No one should be left behind by their community, and all contributory forms of harm must be addressed by groups tackling parallel behavioral health challenges.

"Preventing alcohol consumption is not the end goal," noted Carson Benowitz-Fredericks, Alcohol Justice's Director of Research. "The ultimate aim is to prevent suffering, injury, and death. Reducing alcohol consumption leads us here; preventing overdose guides us here; ensuring culturally competent mental health care also propels us towards this goal."

The potential for reducing harm through these grants not only alleviates community suffering but offers cost-effective solutions to economically and emotionally devastating outcomes. According to a RAND analysis, the average SAMHSA grant was $2.3 million, impacted heavily by sizable state granters. Still, the potential return on investment is staggering:

• - Preventing a single suicide can save $859,000, not to mention the immense emotional pain avoided by merely saving three lives.
• - Each prevented HIV infection, through education or PrEP, averts $229,800, wherein just 10 cases prevented justifies the grant expenditure.
• - Preventing a single fatal overdose can save the U.S. an astounding $11.5 million, meaning avoiding just one overdose can return five times the grant value.

Rob Lipton, Alcohol Justice's Chief Scientific Officer, stated, "We must never underestimate community health organizations' ability to generate impact that significantly exceeds their size. By preserving this funding, we empower community members who can achieve more with less."

Thanks to the rapid efforts of numerous bipartisan lawmakers from across the nation, the worst impacts of this funding crisis have been averted. Alcohol Justice extends gratitude to these individuals for their dedicated representation of communities and acknowledges the role of everyday citizens in urging their representatives to take action. More than anything, we wish to express solidarity with the many organizations that receive these funds that transform them into hope, care, and healing.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact the representatives listed above or email [email protected].

About Alcohol Justice

Alcohol Justice is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987, dedicated to reducing alcohol-related harm through research, advocacy, and community engagement. By holding the alcohol industry accountable and promoting evidence-based policies, Alcohol Justice aims to create healthier, safer communities. Subscribe to the Alcohol Justice newsletter for action alerts and updates.