Bill Overview
Title: Harm Reduction Through Community Engagement Act of 2022
Description: This bill sets out additional conditions that opioid treatment programs must meet in order to obtain a registration to dispense controlled substances, including by requiring such programs to engage in specified community engagement activities.
Sponsors: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Target Audience
Population: People using opioid treatment programs
Estimated Size: 6500000
- The bill focuses on opioid treatment programs, which suggests it directly impacts individuals who are using these treatment services.
- There are an estimated 26 million people who have opioid use disorders worldwide.
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 2 million people in the United States had an opioid use disorder in 2018.
- Opioid treatment programs also affect the family members of those undergoing treatment, potentially doubling or tripling the number of individuals impacted.
- The bill mentions community engagement activities, suggesting it might also influence local community members and potentially healthcare workers involved in these programs.
Reasoning
- This policy impacts a large number of people in the U.S., specifically those affected by opioid use disorders. By applying the policy to community engagement activities, the goal might be to increase the effectiveness of treatment programs and integrate them more closely with their communities.
- Given the budget constraint, it would be essential to focus on areas with both a high prevalence of opioid disorders and active community organizations ready to implement the engagement activities. This might mean initial focus on urban or densely populated areas where issues and resources align.
- The policy might not directly impact individuals who are not involved with opioid treatment programs or related community activities. However, the indirect benefits might be observed in broader community wellness and reduced societal costs associated with opioid misuse.
Simulated Interviews
Barista (Portland, OR)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm still struggling with recovery and the stigma that comes with it. I hope this policy could help make our community more understanding.
- It would be great to have more community support and engagement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Warehouse Worker (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy could be a good step towards breaking down barriers between us and the community.
- Community activities can help us find new support systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Social Worker (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Engaging the community is crucial for long-term healing.
- Resources need to align with community needs to really make an impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this give me hope that fewer families will suffer as mine did.
- It’s important to include rural voices in the community engagement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Support from the local community does seem to lift some of the burdens.
- I hope this policy brings real change and acceptance in more conservative communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Community Health Coordinator (Miami, FL)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Community-driven initiatives often have the best outcomes, I'm optimistic.
- Real change depends on sustained engagement and funding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Paramedic (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Community initiatives might lessen the emergency calls, which are overwhelming.
- Prolonged support for individuals is crucial rather than short-term solutions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Freelancer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy can really help my friends stay clean and healthy.
- Community engagement should ideally foster acceptance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Activating my peers in community programs can bridge some gaps.
- Emphasizing education and compassion is key within these programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Nurse (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies need to be accompanied by practical resources to really work.
- I’ve seen other initiatives with promise that didn’t last due to funding cuts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $40000000)
Year 3: $26000000 (Low: $16000000, High: $41000000)
Year 5: $27000000 (Low: $17000000, High: $42000000)
Year 10: $29000000 (Low: $19000000, High: $45000000)
Year 100: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $55000000)
Key Considerations
- The actual implementation costs for these community engagement requirements are subject to variability based on existing infrastructure and the extent of new activities required.
- Monitoring and evaluation frameworks would be crucial to effectively measure the impact and success of community engagement in opioid treatment.
- The indirect benefits in terms of public health outcomes, if successful, could lead to reduced healthcare costs overall, which might benefit both government budgets and individual households.