Section 131 Commission on Methamphetamine Use

(a) There shall be a commission to study and make recommendations regarding methamphetamine and other stimulant use in the commonwealth.

The commission shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery or their designees; a representative from The Massachusetts Medical Society; a representative from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Incorporated; a representative from the Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Ambulance Association, Incorporated; a representative from Boston Emergency Medical Services; a representative from the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; a representative from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.; and 7 members to be appointed by the chair, 1 of whom shall be a person with or in recovery from a stimulant use disorder, 1 of whom shall be a medical provider specializing in addiction with experience treating individuals with stimulant use disorder, 1 of whom shall be a behavioral health provider specializing in addiction with experience treating individuals with stimulant use disorder, 1 of whom shall have experience providing harm reduction services, 1 of whom shall be a clinician or researcher with expertise related to methamphetamine and other stimulant use in communities of color, 1 of whom shall be a clinician or researcher with expertise related to methamphetamine and other stimulant use by individuals experiencing homelessness and 1 of whom shall be a clinician or researcher with expertise related to methamphetamine and other stimulant use in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community. In making appointments, the secretary shall, to the maximum extent feasible, ensure that the commission represents a broad distribution of diverse perspectives and geographic regions.

(b) The commission shall: (i) create aggregate demographic and geographic profiles of individuals who use methamphetamines and other stimulants, including identifying populations most vulnerable to use; (ii) examine the current availability of, and barriers to providing, harm reduction services and treatment to individuals with a stimulant use disorder, including, but not limited to, in outpatient treatment, rehabilitation and continuum of care settings; (iii) examine existing efforts undertaken by healthcare providers and the existing body of research around best practices for treating individuals with a stimulant use disorders, including, but not limited to, evidence for medication treatment for stimulant use disorder, the need for treatment of co-occurring disorders and how to create safe and therapeutic environments in inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings; (iv) examine existing efforts undertaken by service providers and the existing body of research around best practices for harm reduction efforts in working with individuals using stimulants, including, but not limited to, contingency management; (v) examine the intersections among stimulant use and sexual health, particularly among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning community; (vi) examine the intersections between stimulant use and homelessness; (vii) examine existing efforts undertaken by emergency medical service providers and law enforcement officials and the existing body of research on best practices for interacting with individuals with a stimulant use disorder, including, but not limited to, how to de-escalate situations and provide safety and security guidance to health care facilities and local police officers; (viii) examine the source, quantity, potency and pathways to local areas of illicit methamphetamine and other stimulants, related substances and products; and (ix) examine other matters deemed appropriate by the commission.

(c) The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, the joint committee on public health, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than March 31, 2022. The secretary of health and human services shall make the report publicly available on the website of the executive office of health and human services.