National Indian Health Board Works to Ensure that Native Americans are Included in Substance Abuse Report
Washington, DC. The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) supported an amendment to ensure that American Indians and Alaska Natives are included in a report on substance abuse infrastructure. On April 27, 2017, Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK-02) offered this amendment during the House Energy and Commerce Committee's consideration of H.R. 4982 - the Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act of 2016.
H.R. 4982 requires the Comptroller General of the United States to issue a report to Congress on the availability of substance abuse treatment programs throughout the country. Mullin's amendment to the bill will make sure the report also includes information on the availability of drug abuse treatment programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
NIHB worked closely with Congressman Mullin's office on the development of this amendment. NIHB Executive Director Stacy A. Bohlen said:
"American Indians and Alaska Natives are consistently over-represented in statistics relating to alcohol and substance abuse disorders due to the effects historical and intergenerational trauma, lack of treatment resources, and a failure of the United States to live up to its trust responsibility to Tribes for health. It is critical that we have a baseline understanding of the needs in our communities in order to improve access to substance abuse treatment and prevention for our people. We express our deep gratitude to Congressman Mullin for offering his amendment, and look forward to working with him to ensure that Tribal communities are included in any opioid-related legislation that moves through Congress in the coming weeks."
Mullin's amendment and the underlying bill were both unanimously approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. H.R. 4982 will now move to the House floor for consideration.
Founded in 1972, NIHB is a 501(c) 3 not for profit, charitable organization providing health care advocacy services, facilitating Tribal budget consultation and providing timely information, and other services to all Tribal governments. NIHB also conducts research, provides policy analysis, program assessment and development, national and regional meeting planning, training, technical assistance, program and project management. NIHB presents the Tribal perspective while monitoring, reporting on and responding to federal legislation and regulations. It also serves as conduit to open opportunities for the advancement of American Indian and Alaska Native health care with other national and international organizations, foundations corporations and others in its quest to build support for, and advance, Indian health care issues.
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