Capitol Comments

Drug abuse is a crisis in the United States that only continues to grow over time. Many states have turned to treatment plans in efforts to slow this trend. The third installment of this research series will examine what states are doing about drug abuse treatment policies.

On September 27^th, 2017, the Kentucky Work Matters Task Force will convene once again to discuss disability employment policies.  This task force was convened by Governor Matt Bevin in June of 2017.  The mission of the Kentucky Work Matters Task Force is “to address barriers to employment and promote workforce inclusion among people with disabilities, foster children, disabled veterans, individuals with substance abuse issues and individuals with...

Addiction is a driving force for drug abuse. Addiction causes people to do whatever it takes to get ahold of their drug of choice. Often the acquisition of drugs leads to people getting arrested and incarcerated. The second installment of this series will examine how drug abuse in the states affects incarceration.

Over the years, substance abuse trends in the states have shift from one drug to another as new policy solutions make previously abused drugs more scarce. Over the past decade, gabapentin has emerged as a drug of concern. Gabapentin, the generic for Neurontin, is a medication that was approved by the FDA in 1993 and is approved to treat epilepsy and nerve pain caused by shingles. The IMS Institute...