BILL NUMBER: S9408

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to replacing an
instance of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services with
the office of addiction services and supports; and to amend chapter 378
of the laws of 2019 relating to creating a public education initiative
designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation about mental illness and
substance use among military service members, in relation to the effec-
tiveness thereof

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to improve engagement in mental health and
substance use treatment among veterans by making permanent a public
health education initiative designed to eliminate stigma and misinforma-
tion about mental illness and substance use among military service
members.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
              

Section 1 amends § 7.09 of the mental hygiene law to update the name of
the office of addiction services and supports.

Section 2 removes the sunset of this section, thereby making the
provisions requiring OASAS and the division of veteran services to
create a public education initiative designed to eliminate stigma and
misinformation about mental illness and substance use among military
service members by updating the name of the office of addiction services
and supports permanent.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Through their service, many military personnel in New York were exposed
to or have experienced trauma, placing many of them in high-risk catego-
ries of triggering underlying conditions, such as Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), substance use problems, and death by suicide. Unfortu-
nately, a number of barriers face veterans in obtaining treatment for
these conditions. This bill would improve engagement in mental health
and substance use treatment among veterans by creating a public educa-
tion initiative designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation about
mental illness and substance use among military service members.

According to the National Library of Medicine, veteran suicide rates are
significantly high, with deaths by suicide at over 6,000 veterans per
year. It also reported that overall suicide rates within the United
States have increased by 30% between 1999 and 2016, with one study
attributing an estimated 17.8% to deaths by suicide by veterans. A 2021
study reported that more than 30,000 active duty and veterans of
post-9/11 wars have died by suicide over the last 20 years, which is
more than four times the number of service members killed in war oper-
ations during that time. The National Institutes of Health estimate that
1 in 10 veterans have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder.
Additional research has suggested that approximately 14% to 16% of

service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq were diagnosed with
PTSD or depression.

Unfortunately, many veterans who need mental health or substance use
treatment do not seek care. Recent research has revealed that these care
needs of military personnel and veterans are only partially met.  Stigma
surrounding mental health and substance use, concerns about being seeing
as weak, false perceptions about the efficacy and availability of treat-
ment, and other barriers represent significant deterrents to care.

This bill would specifically address these barriers by creating a public
education initiative to eliminate stigma and misinformation about mental
illness and substance use among military service members as well as
ensures that such initiative is made permanent.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately