Ongoing efforts, many of which are made possible by the SUPPORT Act, are vital to the fight against the OUD/SUD epidemic and overdose crisis.

The reauthorization takes a narrower, more streamlined approach than the original SUPPORT Act that first passed in 2018. That law included several ACEP-led priorities, including the Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act as a demonstration program to equip emergency physicians with the tools they need to help fight the opioid epidemic.

ACEP’s successful advocacy ensured that ALTO was later reauthorized independently as a permanent program and received a boost in federal funding.

The reauthorized SUPPORT Act will improve access to evidence-based treatment and recovery programs, continue federal investment in overdose prevention and community-based recovery initiatives, preserve telehealth flexibilities for prescribing OUD/SUD medications, and enhance national data collection related to substance use and mental health services.

ACEP strongly applauds this reauthorization and recognizes that there’s still much more to be done. We are proud to make sure that policymakers hear directly from you so that they can factor your expertise into policy solutions that save lives in the communities where you live and work.