SB19-228 (Winter & Moreno/ Buentello & Singer) Substance Use Disorders Prevention Measures
Summary
This bill contains several important policy changes that would help prevent substance use disorders and mitigate their impact on Colorado families and children. One important component is the creation of pilot programs to mitigate the impact of substance use disorders and mental health conditions and pregnant and postpartum women. The bill would also provide youth opioid prevention grants to establish innovative ways to combat substance use among youth, require certain individuals with prescriptive authority to complete a substance use disorder training as part of continuing education and a requirement in ensure a warning label be on the outside of an outpatient opioid prescription, cautioning people against the addictive nature of their prescription.
Position
The Colorado Children’s Campaign supports this bill because we know that misuse of prescription pain drugs is the most common substance use behavior among Colorado youth after tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. Also, research show that integrated primary and behavioral health care is an extremely effective method for getting folks into treatment and will greatly improve care for pregnant and postpartum women. The pilots in this bill would help increase the number of women who are referred to and receive substance use and mental health services prenatally and in the postpartum period – helping to create strong Colorado families. Evidence shows that among women with substance use disorders, these programs have increased access to prenatal care, reduced c-sections, and reduced preterm birth and the need for higher-level newborn care. Additionally, they reduce substance use 6-months postpartum –reducing the risk of mortality among new moms and helping new parents form healthy attachments with their children.
Current Status
Signed by the governor on May 23, 2019.
Previous Statuses
April 12, 2019
Passed out of Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a vote of 3-1 and now heads to the senate floor for second reading. Our VP of Health Initiatives, Erin Miller, testified in support
April 26, 2019
Passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 28-7 and now heads to the House Health & Insurance Committee.
May 3, 2019
Passed the House as amended on a vote of 43-20 and repassed the Senate with House amendments. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
