Alcohol and substance misuse prevention

Section 120 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011i) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking Drug and alcohol abuse prevention and inserting Alcohol and substance misuse; (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees that, and inserting an evidence-based or evidence-informed program to prevent alcohol and substance misuse by students and employees that,; (B) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol and inserting alcohol and substance misuse; (C) by amending paragraph (1)(D) to read as follows: (D) a description of any alcohol or substance misuse counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, reentry, or recovery support programs provided by the institution (including in partnership with a community-based organization) that are available to employees or students; and; (D) in paragraph (1)(E), by striking that the institution will impose and inserting of the policies of the institution regarding; and (E) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting, overdoses, after violations; (ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking and at the end and inserting or; and (iii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting, overdoses, after violations; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A); (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting; and; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (C) assistance to institutions to comply with the requirements of this section.; (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Interagency agreement Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall enter into an interagency agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to— (A) develop best practices that inform criteria which satisfy the requirement under subsection (a) that an institution of higher education has adopted and has implemented an evidence-based or evidence-informed program described in such subsection; (B) establish a process for disseminating the best practices for adopting and implementing such an evidence-based or evidence-informed program; and (C) establish a process that promotes coordination and collaboration between institutions of higher education and the respective State agencies that administer the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grants pursuant to subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x–21). (3) Guidance Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, issue guidance with respect to the criteria described in paragraph (2)(A).; and (4) in subsection (e)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking drug abuse in the heading and inserting substance misuse; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking, and enter into contracts with such institutions, consortia, and and or contracts; (ii) by striking other organizations and inserting community-based organizations that partner with institutions of higher education, including with a collegiate recovery program of an institution,; (iii) by striking programs of prevention, and education (including treatment-referral) to reduce and eliminate the illegal use of drugs and alcohol and the violence associated with such use and inserting evidence-based or evidence-informed programs of alcohol and substance misuse prevention and education (including programs to improve access to treatment, recovery support services, referral for treatment services, or crisis intervention services) to eliminate illegal substance use, decrease substance misuse, and improve public health and safety; and (iv) by striking alcohol and drug abuse and inserting substance use disorder; (C) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively; (D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Additional uses In addition to the activities described in paragraph (1), a grant or contract awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to carry out one or more of the following evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or activities: (A) Providing programs for recovery support services, peer support services, and counseling for students with a substance use disorder. (B) Promoting integration and collaboration in campus-based health services between primary care, substance use disorder services, and mental health services. (C) Promoting integrated care services for students related to screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. (D) Providing re-entry assistance for students on academic probation due to their substance use disorder. (E) Preventing fatal and nonfatal overdoses, including restoring existing mental health and substance use disorder services after a natural disaster or public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d). (F) Providing education to students, faculty, or other personnel on— (i) recognizing the signs and symptoms of substance use disorder and how to engage and support a person in a crisis; (ii) resources available in the community, within the institution of higher education, and other relevant resources for individuals with a substance use disorder; and (iii) safely de-escalating crises involving individuals with a substance use disorder.; (E) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by striking and contracts; (F) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by striking or contract; (G) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by striking and contracts each place it appears; and (H) by amending paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), to read as follows: (6) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years..