Opioid/Substance Use Disorders:

• The Recover Out Loud livestream concert event in recognition of International Recovery Day and National Recovery Month will kickoff today at 8:30pm ET! Greg Williams of Third Horizon Strategies helped produce the event, which is nationwide recovery initiative—supported by iHeart Media and Variety and produced by Mobilize Recovery. Tune in to hear music by Macklemore, KT Tunstall, Evvie McKinney, Daphne Willis and many more live from Las Vegas. (Event here)
• A bipartisan group of 144 House lawmakers spearheaded by the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force unveiled their agenda expanding access to mental health care and combating the growing drug epidemic. The 48-page bipartisan blueprint outlines 12 policy subcategories including prevention, treatment, rural and underserved communities, workforce development, first responders, interdiction, children and families, veterans, prescribing, education, health care access, and health parity. (Press release here)
• Congressman David Trone and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh co-authored an opinion piece discussing actions to recognize National Recovery Month. Congressman Trone is part of the aforementioned Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force and Secretary Walsh noted that the Department of Labor is requiring parity for mental health and substance use disorder treatment in employment-based health insurance and prioritizing workplace awareness of mental health and substance use risks, as well as the resources available to help. (Article here)