In 2023, our nation witnessed the first annual decline in overdose deaths since 2018. In 2022, there were over 111,000 deaths. In 2023, that number fell to 107,543. Though modest, this suggests that nationwide efforts to reduce overdoses are making a positive impact. However, the work is not finished.
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January is the Perfect Time to Pursue Treatment for a Substance Use Disorder
“New year, new me!”
This common phrase, echoed each year in January, embraces the air of change that comes with a new year. While it is not necessary to wait until a new year to make changes for our health, January is a time for fresh starts.
Embracing the spirit of opportunity and change, January 2025 will mark SAMHSA’s first annual Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Month. Each week in January will feature a theme:
Celebrating 20 Years of the Strategic Prevention Framework
Each October, we celebrate Substance Use Prevention Month — an opportunity to highlight the importance of prevention and the positive impact prevention is having on individuals, families, and communities across the country. Preventing substance use is a major priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, as evidenced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Overdose Prevention Strategy.
The Right to Live in the Community: Commemorating 25 Years of the Olmstead Decision
Tomorrow, 25 years ago, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision affirmed the rights of people with disabilities – including those with serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED) – to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. The case involved two Georgia women – Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson – living with intellectual disabilities and mental illness.