RD326 - 2017 Annual Report of the Substance Abuse Services Council – October 1, 2017


Executive Summary:
The Substance Abuse Services Council (Council) is established in the Code of Virginia [§2.2-2696] to advise the Governor, the General Assembly and the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services on matters pertaining to substance abuse in the Commonwealth. As required, the Council met four times during 2017 (March 15, April 12, May 10 and July 13).

All meetings were conducted in the metropolitan Richmond area. Meeting notices and approved minutes are posted on the Council’s web page at http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/about-dbhds/boards-and-councils/substance-abuse-services-council. Presentations and other information distributed at the meetings are also available at this website.

The contents of this report cover the activities of the Council in calendar year 2017. During this period, the Substance Abuse Services Council continued to study and discuss critical topics related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse in the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on opioid addiction through the lens of youth and families.

The following sections describe the Council’s activities and recent developments that informed the Council’s discussion.