Advocacy and Policy Change

Every year the Northland Coalition adopts legislative priorities. For additional talking points or information concerning the Northland Coalition’s position on the following priorities please contact Vicky Ward at vickyw@tri-countymhs.org or 816-965-1018

Top Three Priorities:

Add Funding For Prevention To The State’s Budget

  • 16% of Missouri’s budget is spent on risky substance use addiction. Of that amount,
  • 2 cents of each dollar is spent on prevention and treatment
  • 98 cents of each dollar goes towards the repercussions of addiction. (Center on Addiction, 2017)
  • There is a strong connection between substance use and mental illness
  • 6 in 10 substance users also have a mental illness. (NIDA)
  • 1 in 8 children are affected by anxiety, but only 20% receive treatment.
  • Additional funding for prevention is essential to reduce overall state costs.
  • CCBHC’s have saved Missouri $20 million in the past two years.
  • Savings go directly into the general revenue
  • The successes of CCBHC’s prove that Missouri must approve a long-term commitment to support these organizations. 

Ban All Fruit Flavored Vape Products In Missouri

  • Flavors are the #1 reason teens start vaping.
  • The current policy on flavors only restricts prepackaged cartridges.
  • There are NO restrictions on flavored disposable vapes and flavored e-juice, which are popular products among youth.
  • Menthol is still available for sale in pre-packaged forms. 50% of youth who smoke started with menthol flavor.
  • For the first time in history, more kids report vaping in the past 30 days over drinking alcohol (MSS, 2018)

Establish A Unified, Comprehensive Narcotics Control Monitoring Program Between Pharmacies  SB677, HB1693

  • Rx drug and heroin abuse is a growing problem in the KC region as overdose ER visits continue to rise. (mopdmpnow.org)
  • In 2018, deaths due to overdoses rose by 17% in Missouri, one of only 5 states to see a double-digit increase.
  • 1 in 10 Missouri students report using drugs not prescribed to them, 35% higher than the national average. (MSS, 2018)
  • States with strong PDMP mandates have seen large declines in patients seeing multiple prescribers for the same drugs. (Tennessee-36% decline, New York-75%)
  • If Missouri adopts a PDMP, and other states enhance their programs, it is estimated there would be 600 fewer deaths nationwide (approximately 2 less per day). (Patrick, Fry, Jones & Buntin, 2016)
Northland Compass

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