The resolution addresses the urgent need for enhanced mental health and substance use services in Rhode Island, highlighting the state's ongoing crisis of drug and alcohol abuse, which is marked by high rates of overdose deaths and youth substance use. The Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island (SUMHLC) is tasked with promoting a coordinated system of comprehensive community-based services aimed at prevention and treatment. The resolution emphasizes the importance of maintaining accessible services to support individuals in achieving and sustaining abstinence from substance abuse and improving mental health.

To support these efforts, the resolution proposes an appropriation of $250,000 for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to the SUMHLC. This funding is intended to bolster the council's initiatives and enhance the availability of necessary services in the community. The state controller is authorized to facilitate the payment of this sum upon receipt of the appropriate documentation, thereby ensuring that the council can effectively address the pressing substance use and mental health challenges facing Rhode Island.