Foundational Research

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) should implement a fast-track review process for any new evidence-based technology supporting substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatments.[1]

The National Institute of Mental Health should fund research on the causes and potential treatments for postpartum psychosis, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) should convene relevant clinical specialty associations to create screening and treatment guidelines.

Federal appropriators should provide specific funding to support research by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to continue the development of evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) interventions for underserved communities, such as LGBTQ+ youth, Native communities, Black Americans, and Hispanic/Latino communities.[1]

Congress should provide additional resources to the National Institutes of Health to increase research in concert with the pharmaceutical industry to develop and test innovative medications for substance use disorders (SUDs), including long-acting injectables, more potent opioid antagonists to reverse overdose, drugs used for detoxification, and vaccines, and treatments for stimulant use disorder.[1]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should undertake the same type of thorough review on the safety and efficacy of new potential medications like psychedelics as it does for all possible medications.

Congress should pass the Autism CARES Act of 2024.