The Methamphetamine Response Act passed the House of Representatives by voice vote on February 28, 2022, and is now under review by President Biden. Addiction Policy Forum endorsed this bill in 2020.
The Methamphetamine Response Act, sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), requires the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to declare methamphetamine as an emerging drug threat. This timely legislation is in response to the alarming rise in the number of overdoses related to psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine. In 2019, the number of methamphetamine-related overdose deaths rose by 27 percent, highlighting the importance of federal assistance to combat this crisis.
This legislation will help provide prevention and treatment programs for those struggling with a methamphetamine use disorder. Specifically, this legislation will require the ONDCP to develop and implement an emerging drug threat response plan to combat the recent increase in methamphetamine overdose deaths. The response plan will include an annual assessment to help determine where evidence-based prevention and treatment programs can be most helpful. Additionally, it will identify short and long term goals to reduce the supply and demand of methamphetamine across the nation.
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