State Model Laws

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA), has developed several Model State Drug Laws to serve as a resource for states in the development effective substance use disorder policies. These model laws include:

• Model Law Enforcement and Other First Responders Deflection Act: Encourages the use and establishment of deflection programs on the state level. Deflection programs provide proactive policing to assist individuals who are at risk and offer pathways to treatment, recovery services, housing, medication for addiction treatment, whole family services, and other needed supports.
• Model Syringe Services Program Act: Authorizes the establishment of comprehensive syringe services programs, which are associated with a decrease in bloodborne infectious disease diagnoses as well as the number of needlestick injuries to first responders and others.
• Model Expanded Access to Emergency Opioid Antagonists Act: Provides state officials with the means to increase the ability of their citizens to access and use life-saving emergency opioid antagonists. Opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, which can be used during emergencies to reverse opioid overdoses and are effective in preventing fatal drug overdoses.
• Model Opioid Litigation Proceeds Act: Assists states in their efforts to maximize funds available to address the overdose crisis through the establishment of a dedicated fund, separate from the state’s general treasury fund, that is designated for substance use disorder abatement, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction infrastructure, programs, services, supports, and resources. All proceeds received by the state arising out of legal claims made against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioid analgesics, pharmacies that dispensed prescription opioid analgesics, and related parties shall be deposited into the dedicated fund.
• Model Overdose Fatality Review Teams Act: Assists states in setting up county-level, multidisciplinary teams to identify challenges unique to a local area. It addresses the duties, responsibilities, and composition of Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) teams in order for them to properly examine and understand the circumstances leading up to a fatal overdose.
• Model Overdose Mapping and Response Act: Assists states in  addressing overdose incident reporting. The Model Act requires a state (or other jurisdiction) to create an overdose mapping and response system using ODMAP where all law enforcement officers, other first responders, medical examiners, and coroners must report certain information about a confirmed or suspected overdose incident within 24 hours. 

Additionally, LAPPA has released reports on timely drug policy topics:

• Performance Measures for Medication-assisted Treatment in Correctional Settings: A Framework for Implementation: This report provides professionals at correctional settings with a performance management framework to monitor medication treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional settings and recommends twelve performance measures to track key activities associated with corrections-based medication treatment programs and their impacts.
• Telehealth and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Era of COVID-19: Review and Recommendations: This report found that telehealth services can provide increased access to vulnerable individuals with substance use disorder, decrease costs, and reduce spread of communicable diseases.

Model law descriptions retrieved from the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association.

State officials interested in implementing model laws can contact ONDCP with any questions or requests for additional information.