The Substance Abuse Services 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 2018 (March 28, April 25, May 30, and June 27.) All meetings were conducted in the metropolitan Richmond area.  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-Councils/SASC. 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 2018. During this period, the Council continued to study and discuss critical topics related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse in the Commonwealth, with a continued focus on opioid addiction as it affects youth and families.

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