Addiction Mental Health Law

2 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Addiction and mental health have increasingly become an integral part of the broader policy landscape. This shift has been accelerated by the impact of social issues such as the overdose epidemic, suicide and homelessness. This seminar will explore the framework of laws and policies promoting human rights, dignity, and recovery for people with substance use disorders and mental health conditions. It will highlight systemic and community responses to addiction, mental health, and related social issues as well as the use of litigation, legislation, advocacy and financial incentives as tools for reform. Discussion will include: Evolution of responses to addiction, mental health, and related social issues; Human rights, deinstitutionalization and the rights of an individual to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs; Statutory and regulatory frameworks promoting access to treatment, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Understanding data, outcome measures, and healthcare finance structures for behavioral health, including Medicaid and commercial insurance; The role of litigation to promote accountability and protect civil rights; The impact of stigma, the dignity of risk, and harm reduction philosophy; Role of the health care and criminal justice systems and trends in reforms; The impact of globalization and comparative analysis of international drug policy; Cultural competence in legal advocacy and practice. Guest lectures and discussion will provide real world case studies on laws and policy reforms impacting addiction and mental health.