§290bb–25g. Awareness campaigns

(a) In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with the heads of other departments and agencies, shall advance education and awareness regarding the risks related to misuse and abuse of opioids, as appropriate, which may include developing or improving existing programs, conducting activities, and awarding grants that advance the education and awareness of-

(1) the public, including patients and consumers-

(A) generally; and

(B) regarding such risks related to unused opioids and the dispensing options under section 829(f) of title 21, as applicable; and

(2) providers, which may include-

(A) providing for continuing education on appropriate prescribing practices;

(B) education related to applicable State or local prescriber limit laws, information on the use of non-addictive alternatives for pain management, and the use of overdose reversal drugs, as appropriate;

(C) disseminating and improving the use of evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines across relevant health care settings, as appropriate, and updating guidelines as necessary;

(D) implementing strategies, such as best practices, to encourage and facilitate the use of prescriber guidelines, in accordance with State and local law;

(E) disseminating information to providers about prescribing options for controlled substances, including such options under section 829(f) of title 21, as applicable; and

(F) disseminating information, as appropriate, on the National Pain Strategy developed by or in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Health; and

(3) other appropriate entities.

(b) Topics

The education and awareness campaigns under subsection (a) shall address-

(1) the dangers of opioid misuse and abuse;

(2) the prevention of opioid misuse and abuse, including through non-addictive treatment options, safe disposal options for prescription medications, and other applicable safety precautions; and

(3) the detection of early warning signs of addiction.

(c) Other requirements

The education and awareness campaigns under subsection (a) shall, as appropriate-

(1) take into account any association between prescription opioid abuse and heroin use;

(2) emphasize-

(A) the similarities between heroin and prescription opioids; and

(B) the effects of heroin and prescription opioids on the human body; and

(3) bring greater public awareness to the dangerous effects of fentanyl when mixed with heroin or abused in a similar manner.

( Pub. L. 114–198, title I, §102, July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 698 ; Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, §7161(b), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4061 .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2018-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–271, §7161(b)(1), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the heads of other departments and agencies, shall, as appropriate, through existing programs and activities, advance the education and awareness of the public (including providers, patients, and consumers) and other appropriate entities regarding the risk of abuse of prescription opioids if such drugs are not taken as prescribed."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–271, §7161(b)(2)(A), substituted "opioid misuse and abuse" for "opioid abuse".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–271, §7161(b)(2), substituted "opioid misuse and abuse" for "opioid abuse" and "non-addictive treatment options, safe disposal options for prescription medications, and other applicable" for "safe disposal of prescription medications and other".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Synthetic Opioid and Emerging Drug Misuse Danger Awareness

Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title I, §1272, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5686 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], the Secretary shall provide for the planning and implementation of a public education campaign to raise public awareness of synthetic opioids (including fentanyl and its analogues) and emerging drug use and misuse issues, as appropriate. Such campaign related to synthetic opioids shall include the dissemination of information that-

"(1) promotes awareness about the potency and dangers of fentanyl and its analogues and other synthetic opioids;

"(2) explains services provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (and any entity providing such services under a contract entered into with such agencies) with respect to the use and misuse of opioids (including synthetic opioids) and other emerging drug threats, such as stimulants, as appropriate; and

"(3) relates generally to opioid use and pain management, including information on alternative, nonopioid pain management treatments.

The Secretary shall update such campaign to address emerging drug misuse issues, as appropriate.

"(b) Use of Media.-The campaign under subsection (a) may be implemented through the use of television, radio, internet, in-person public communications, and other commercial marketing venues and may be targeted to specific demographic groups.

"(c) Consideration of Report Findings.-In planning and implementing the public education campaign under subsection (a) related to synthetic opioids, the Secretary shall take into consideration the findings of the report required under section 7001 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115–271) [132 Stat. 4007].

"(d) Consultation.-In coordinating the campaign under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to provide ongoing advice on the effectiveness of information disseminated through the campaign.

"(e) Requirement of Campaign.-The campaign implemented under subsection (a) shall not be duplicative of any other Federal efforts relating to eliminating substance use and misuse.

"(f) Evaluation.-

"(1) In general.-The Secretary shall ensure that the campaign implemented under subsection (a) is subject to an independent evaluation, beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 2 years thereafter.

"(2) Measures and benchmarks.-For purposes of an evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall-

"(A) establish baseline measures and benchmarks to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the campaign under this section; and

"(B) conduct qualitative assessments regarding the effectiveness of strategies employed under this section.

"(g) Report.-The Secretary shall, beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 2 years thereafter, submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the campaign implemented under subsection (a) towards meeting the measures and benchmarks established under subsection (f)(2).

"(h) Dissemination of Information Through Providers.-The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the dissemination of information related to synthetic opioids, to health care providers who participate in Federal programs, including programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Indian Health Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.), and the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).

"(i) Training Guide and Outreach on Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention.-

"(1) Training guide.-Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall design, publish, and make publicly available on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a training guide and webinar for first responders and other individuals who also may be at high risk of exposure to synthetic opioids that details measures to prevent that exposure.

"(2) Outreach.-Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall also conduct outreach about the availability of the training guide and webinar published under paragraph (1) to-

"(A) fire department staff;

"(B) law enforcement officers;

"(C) ambulance transport and other first responders;

"(D) hospital emergency department personnel; and

"(E) other high-risk occupations, as identified by the Secretary."

Information Materials and Resources To Prevent Addiction Related to Youth Sports Injuries

Pub. L. 114–198, title I, §104, July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 700 , provided that:

"(a) Report.-The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the 'Secretary') shall, not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this section [July 22, 2016], make publicly available on the appropriate website of the Department of Health and Human Services a report determining the extent to which informational materials and resources described in subsection (c) are available to teenagers and adolescents who play youth sports, families of such teenagers and adolescents, nurses, youth sports groups, and relevant health care provider groups.

"(b) Development of Informational Materials and Resources.-The Secretary may, for purposes of preventing substance use disorder in teenagers and adolescents who are injured playing youth sports and are subsequently prescribed an opioid, not later than 12 months after the report is made publicly available under subsection (a), and taking into consideration the findings of such report and in coordination with relevant health care provider groups, facilitate the development of informational materials and resources described in subsection (c) for teenagers and adolescents who play youth sports, families of such teenagers and adolescents, nurses, youth sports groups, and relevant health care provider groups.

"(c) Materials and Resources Described.-For purposes of this section, the informational materials and resources described in this subsection are informational materials and resources with respect to youth sports injuries for which opioids are potentially prescribed, including materials and resources focused on the risks associated with opioid use and misuse, treatment options for such injuries that do not involve the use of opioids, and how to seek treatment for addiction.

"(d) No Additional Funds.-No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this section. This section shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for such purpose."