Behavioral Health
Governors play a critical role in addressing behavioral health in their state, including both mental health and substance use disorders. The Behavioral Health Program supports governor’s offices by providing evidence-informed promising and best practices that promote behavioral health to improve the lives and wellbeing of their constituents.
Our Focus Areas
- Evidence based policies for reducing overdose
- Mitigation of trauma and adverse childhood experiences to prevent substance use disorder
- Implementation of a continuum of care to address substance use disorder
- Mental Health Promotion
- Reducing infectious diseases related to drug use
Meet The Team
- Marianne Gibson
Program Director - Dana Heilman
Senior Policy Analyst - Abigail Smith
Policy Coordinator
Behavioral Health Library
Governors Make Recommendations To Address National Opioid Epidemic
WASHINGTON—To address the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history, the nation’s governors are calling on the federal government to take swift action. Governors’ Priorities for Addressing the Nation’s Opioid Crisis provide ...
State, Local Leaders Expand Efforts to Treat Opioid Overdoses
NGA, the National Association of Counties and other organizations today announced an agreement that will offer public agencies access to a reduced-price, potentially lifesaving opioid withdrawal nasal spray. The FDA-approved ...
Using Data to Better Serve the Most Complex Patients
Across the country, health care systems continue to grapple with how best to serve patients with the greatest needs. These complex care patients, sometimes referred to as super-utilizers, have comorbid ...
Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse: Lessons Learned from an NGA Policy Academy
As part of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) ongoing effort to help states reduce prescription drug abuse, findings from the Prescription Drug Abuse Reduction Policy Academy were the focus of ...
Six Strategies for Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse
The abuse of prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, and is the most common type of drug abuse after marijuana use among teens between ...
