SUMHLC Blog Archive

Where does the money from Rhode Island’s cannabis sales go? As President and CEO at The Leadership Council for Substance Abuse and Mental Health of Rhode Island, I would like to know. So, members of the General Assembly, and Governor McKee, what’s the answer?

At SUMHLC, we work each day to promote a collaborative, coordinated system of high quality, comprehensive community-based mental health and substance use prevention and treatment services. By working with a compassionate, experienced network of providers, we are making a real difference in the communities we serve and are supporting those who need it most.

I am pleased to report that SUMHLC had a very successful legislative session. At the State House, we strongly advocated on behalf of our providers for a rate increase they desperately needed. After over 20 years without an increase, the Governor’s budget provides for a 20% increase for our mental health and substance use providers.

Despite the consensus on their importance, medications remain underused, presenting a significant gap in the standard services available to treat individuals with substance use disorder (SUD).

While science suggests that addiction is a chronic illness, much of our thinking — and even the system designed to provide treatment and recovery support — is geared to provide episodic acute care.

We need the help of our Governor and General Assembly to ensure our patients and families continue to receive the care they so desperately need.