June 15, 2026 · AzSAM
AzSAM Co-Sponsors Addiction Study Bill (SB1814)
AzSAM partnered with the Arizona Attorney General's Office to champion Senate Bill 1814, signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs in June 2026. The legislation establishes the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Standards and Oversight Study Committee to strengthen oversight, quality, and accountability in Arizona's addiction treatment system.
Arizona has faced significant challenges within its behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment system. In recent years, state investigations have uncovered widespread fraud, waste, and abuse that resulted in an estimated $2.9 billion in questionable Medicaid expenditures, while also exposing serious concerns about the quality, consistency, and accountability of care provided to vulnerable individuals seeking treatment for addiction and behavioral health conditions. These findings highlighted the need for stronger oversight, greater transparency, and clearer expectations regarding what constitutes safe, evidence-based, patient-centered addiction treatment. For many patients and families, navigating the treatment landscape has been difficult, with wide variation in clinical practices, access to medications for addiction treatment, care coordination, and adherence to nationally recognized standards of care.
Recognizing these challenges, the Arizona Society of Addiction Medicine (AzSAM) partnered closely with the Arizona Attorney General's Office to champion Senate Bill 1814, landmark legislation designed to strengthen the future of addiction treatment in Arizona. Signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs in June 2026, SB1814 established the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Standards and Oversight Study Committee, bringing together experts from medicine, behavioral health, public policy, state government, and community organizations to evaluate Arizona's treatment system and develop recommendations for improving quality, accountability, and patient outcomes. The legislation reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that individuals with substance use disorders receive care that is grounded in science, aligned with nationally recognized best practices, and focused on long-term recovery and wellness.
As a lead sponsor and advocate for the legislation, AzSAM worked to ensure that the voices of addiction medicine specialists were represented throughout the legislative process. The law represents an important step toward restoring public trust, protecting patients and families, and ensuring that every Arizonan seeking help for addiction has access to safe, effective, and compassionate care.