STATUTORY OVERVIEW

The Utah Substance Use Advisory Council (USAAV+) was created by the 1990 Utah Legislature for the purpose of coordinating the state’s efforts related to substance abuse. The Council is located in the Governor’s Office and staffed by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ). The mission of the USAAV+ is to create and coordinate a comprehensive strategy to eliminate substance use and mental health disorders throughout Utah.

The Council’s statutory duties are to:

• Provide leadership and generate unity for Utah’s ongoing efforts to combat substance abuse;
• Recommend and coordinate the creation, dissemination, and implementation of a statewide substance abuse policy;
• Facilitate planning for a balanced continuum of substance abuse prevention, treatment, and justice services;
• Promote collaboration and mutually beneficial public and private partnerships;
• Analyze and provide an objective assessment of all proposed legislation concerning alcohol and other drug issues;
• Oversee the implementation and evaluation of Utah’s Drug Offender Reform Act (DORA);
• Monitor the use of alcohol funds annually distributed to municipalities and counties for purposes of alcohol-related law enforcement, prevention, treatment, detection, prosecution, and control to ensure compliance with Utah statute (§32B-2-404 and 405);
• Oversee Utah’s Underage Drinking Prevention Media Campaign, ParentsEmpowered.org; and
• Report recommendations annually to the Governor, Legislature, Judicial Council, and CCJJ.