2022 Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 458 - Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders
NRS 458.480 - Duties; report.
1. The Working Group shall:
(a) Leverage and expand efforts by state and local governmental entities to reduce the use of substances which are associated with substance use disorders, including, without limitation, heroin, other synthetic and non-synthetic opioids and stimulants, and identify ways to enhance those efforts through coordination and collaboration.
(b) Assess evidence-based strategies for preventing substance use and intervening to stop substance use, including, without limitation, the use of heroin, other synthetic and non-synthetic opioids and stimulants. Such strategies must include, without limitation, strategies to:
(1) Help persons at risk of a substance use disorder avoid developing a substance use disorder;
(2) Discover potentially problematic substance use in a person and intervene before the person develops a substance use disorder;
(3) Treat the medical consequences of a substance use disorder in a person and facilitate the treatment of the substance use disorder to minimize further harm; and
(4) Reduce the harm caused by substance use, including, without limitation, by preventing overdoses.
(c) Assess and evaluate existing pathways to treatment and recovery for persons with substance use disorders, including, without limitation, such persons who are members of special populations.
(d) Work to understand how residents of this State who are involved in the criminal justice system access supports for treatment of and recovery from substance use disorders at various points, including, without limitation, by reviewing existing diversion, deflection and reentry programs for such persons.
(e) Evaluate ways to improve and expand evidence-based or evidence-informed programs, procedures and strategies to treat and support recovery from opioid use disorder and any co-occurring substance use disorder, including, without limitation, among members of special populations.
(f) Examine support systems and programs for persons who are in recovery from opioid use disorder and any co-occurring substance use disorder.
(g) Make recommendations to entities including, without limitation, the State Board of Pharmacy, professional licensing boards that license practitioners, other than veterinarians, the State Board of Health, the Division, the Governor and the Legislature, to ensure that controlled substances are appropriately prescribed in accordance with the provisions of NRS 639.2391 to 639.23916, inclusive.
(h) Examine qualitative and quantitative data to understand the risk factors that contribute to substance use and the rates of substance use and substance use disorders, focusing on special populations.
(i) Develop strategies for local, state and federal law enforcement and public health agencies to respond to and prevent overdoses and plans for implementing those strategies.
(j) Study the efficacy and expand the implementation of programs to:
(1) Educate youth and families about the effects of substance use and substance use disorders; and
(2) Reduce the harms associated with substance use and substance use disorders while referring persons with substance use disorders to evidence-based treatment.
(k) Recommend strategies to improve coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement and public health agencies to enhance the communication of timely and relevant information relating to substance use and reduce duplicative data collection and research.
(l) Evaluate current systems for sharing information between agencies regarding the trafficking and distribution of legal and illegal substances which are associated with substance use disorders, including, without limitation, heroin, other synthetic and non-synthetic opioids and stimulants.
(m) Study the effects of substance use disorders on the criminal justice system, including, without limitation, law enforcement agencies and correctional institutions.
(n) Study the sources and manufacturers of substances which are associated with substance use disorders, including, without limitation, heroin, other synthetic and non-synthetic opioids and stimulants, and methods and resources for preventing the manufacture, trafficking and sale of such substances.
(o) Study the effectiveness of criminal and civil penalties at preventing the misuse of substances and substance use disorders and the manufacture, trafficking and sale of substances which are associated with substance use disorders, including, without limitation, heroin, other synthetic and non-synthetic opioids and stimulants.
(p) Evaluate the effects of substance use disorders on the economy of this State.
(q) Study, evaluate and make recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services concerning the use of the money described in NRS 458.490 to address substance use disorders, with a focus on:
(1) The use of the money described in subsections 1, 2 and 3 of NRS 458.490 to supplement rather than supplant existing state or local spending;
(2) The use of the money described in NRS 458.490 to support programs that use evidence-based interventions;
(3) The use of the money described in NRS 458.490 to support programs for the prevention of substance use disorders in youth;
(4) The use of the money described in NRS 458.490 to improve racial equity; and
(5) Reporting by state and local agencies to the public concerning the funding of programs to address substance misuse and substance use disorders.
2. On or before January 31 of each year, the Working Group shall:
(a) Compile a report which includes, without limitation, recommendations for the establishment, maintenance, expansion or improvement of programs to address substance misuse and substance use disorders based on the evaluations conducted pursuant to subsection 1; and
(b) Submit the report to the Governor, the Attorney General, any other entities deemed appropriate by the Attorney General and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to:
(1) During an even-numbered year, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on the Judiciary and the Interim Finance Committee; or
(2) During an odd-numbered year, the next regular session of the Legislature.
3. As used in this section:
(a) "Practitioner" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 639.0125.
(b) "Special populations" includes, without limitation:
(1) Veterans, elderly persons and youth;
(2) Persons who are incarcerated, persons who have committed nonviolent crimes primarily driven by a substance use disorder and other persons involved in the criminal justice or juvenile justice systems;
(3) Pregnant women and the parents of dependent children;
(4) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons;
(5) Intravenous drug users;
(6) Children who are involved with the child welfare system; and
(7) Other populations disproportionately impacted by substance use disorders.
(c) "Substance use disorder prevention coalition" means a coalition of persons and entities who possess knowledge and experience related to the prevention of substance misuse and substance use disorders in a region of this State.
(Added to NRS by 2021, 2859)
