What Does CARA Mean For Your Campus?

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015, or “CARA,” is the most expansive legislation to date for addiction and recovery support services, with a focus on heroin and prescription drugs. It passed the Senate on March 10 and the House on May 13. Next, it must be signed by the President to be enacted.

If passed, CARA will provide up to $80 million in funding for the following: addiction prevention, treatment and recovery, educational efforts aimed at teens, expanded availability of naloxone to first responders, and an evidence-based opioid and heroin treatment and intervention program. For you, this could mean more available grant money for recovery efforts and no more questions about prior drug convictions on the FAFSA.

If you’re interested in getting involved, you can track the bill’s progress on this website, and you can contact your House and Senate representatives to encourage them to sign on to the appropriations letter.