The document discusses the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which aims to reform drug policy and the criminal justice system in the United States. It explains the seven parts of CARA, which include expanding prevention and education programs, increasing access to affordable treatment, helping those incarcerated reintegrate into society, and providing addiction recovery services for veterans and pregnant women. If signed into law, CARA will authorize $725 million in federal grants to fund these measures and improve responses to the addiction crisis.

1. A Better Way to a Better Life
EXPLAINING
CARA[The Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act]
The Sovereign Health
Group Presents:

2. “An unusual bipartisan consensus
is emerging – among
presidential candidates as well as
federal, state and local
policy makers from coast to coast
– to promote serious reform of
America’s drug policies and
criminal justice system.”
– Paul Samuels, director
and president
Legal Action Center

3. “I think there’s strong interest in the House of moving this legislation.
I think we have a very good prospect of getting this done.”
“We must spare no effort to reverse this deadly trend. Today’s vote
brings us one step closer to enacting this critical bipartisan legislation
and giving communities the tools they need to combat drug abuse,
including my provision on prescription drug monitoring. I hope that
the House will act quickly to pass this bill so it can be signed into law.”
– Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)
– Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

4. CARA is an integral piece of
legislation that, pending
presidential approval, will
greatly increase
governmental efforts to
combat the effects of
addiction in America. The
details of CARA can seem
complex, but after
breaking down the seven
parts of the bill, it becomes
easier to comprehend.

5. IPREVENTION AND EDUCATION
CARA will create a task force to:
Read Title I’s text here.
Empower communities that have
higher-than-average drug use
Create teaching materials that
will educate teens and the elderly
about substance abuse
• •

6. IILAW ENFORCEMENT AND TREATMENT
Evolving attitudes toward the treatment of substance abusers will
empower the attorney general to enact changes on how we legally
treat drug abuse. CARA will also:
Allow officers to carry naloxone
and intervene with overdoses
Increase unwanted prescription
drug drop-off points
Read Title II’s text here.
• •

7. IIITREATMENT AND RECOVERY
As society moves to treat addiction as a disease instead of a
character flaw, the quality of care improves. CARA will
expand funding for nonprofit and local governments to offer
affordable recovery programs.
Read Title III’s text here.

8. IVADDRESSING COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES
For some, the shift away from the criminalization of drug abuse
has come too late. To help those who are already incarcerated,
CARA will provide:
Educational programs to help
those in prison to assimilate back
into society
• •Expanded recovery efforts
for prisoners
Read Title IV’s text here.

9. VADDICTION AND RECOVERY SERVICES
FOR WOMEN AND VETERANS
CARA will allow women who abused substances while pregnant
and have addicted children as a result get access to
affordable treatment.
CARA will also amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968, so veterans who were discharged due to an
addiction now have access to the Veterans’ Treatment Courts.
Read the bill’s text here.

10. VIINCENTIVIZING COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES
TO ADDICTION AND RECOVERY
The attorney general, secretary of health and human services and the
director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy can authorize grants
that will have the authority to:
• Improve state prescription
drug monitoring programs
• Improve prevention efforts
• Expand treatment programs
• Counteract overdoses
Read the bill’s text here.

11. VIIOFFSET AND GAO REPORT
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will be
required to publish a report within 180 days to show what
impact, if any, CARA has had.
Read the bill’s text here.

12. Because CARA has passed both
the Senate and the House, it is
now on the president’s desk,
where it will either be signed
into law or vetoed. Even if the
bill’s signed, however, the
question of funding will need to
be decided. The bill authorizes
$725 million in federal grants,
but any money from the
federal budget allocated to
fund the bill’s measures would
need to be approved in the 2017
fiscal year.

13. A Better Way to a Better Life
Sovereign Health Group joins the dozens of our fellow treatment professionals in
the passing of CARA. We are constantly working on expanding our services to not
only reach those who feel they are beyond help, but also make that help
affordable. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please visit
www.SovHealth.com. If you have a question about this topic or other behavioral
health issue, please email us at news@sovhealth.com.
Learn more about CARA and addiction policy
in Sovereign Health’s ongoing editorial series
“The State Of Addiction Policy.”
news@sovhealth.com
#StateOfAddictionPolicy