Human Rights Measure

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has a dedicated website on Coronavirus (COVID-19) containing “guidance and resources to assist individuals, providers, communities and states” based on the recognition of “challenges posed by COVID-19.” These include grants as well as guidance for behavioral health providers, facilities, employers, the general public, and OTPs (Opioid Treatment Programs). Among the grants, in April 2020, SAMHSA announced “emergency grants” totaling $110 million in order “to help Americans dealing with substance use disorders and/or serious mental illness” given that they expected “the current national crisis of COVID-19 to contribute to an increase in the number of Americans grappling with those disorders: People throughout the nation will struggle with increases in depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief.” Subsequently, in May 2020, SAMHSA announced “an emergency $40 million grant program to prevent suicide” with the goal “to support states and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in advancing efforts to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.” SAMHSA has published the list of COVID-19 Funded Grants for Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2021. Regarding guidance, SAMHSA’s guidance includes, among others, “Considerations for the Care and Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders in the COVID-19 Epidemic” and “OTP Guidance for Patients Quarantined at Home with the Coronavirus.”