H.R. 5844 — Harm Reduction Through Community Engagement Act of 2025

This section revises registration requirements under the Controlled Substances Act for practitioners dispensing narcotic drugs for maintenance or detoxification treatment (i.e., opioid treatment programs) by requiring the HHS Secretary to determine that applicants (1) address community impacts per new standards, (2) will not provide treatment within one-half mile of a day care center, school, learning center, playground, or other drug treatment facility (including supervised injection facilities), (3) justify patient need, (4) actively promote telehealth to minimize in-person visits, (5) designate a community liaison for relationships with local officials, law enforcement, and community organizations, (6) use or establish a customer relationship management system to track local drug-related service requests, and (7) report treatment performance data to the Secretary on long-term addiction treatment seekers and telehealth outcomes. It further requires such practitioners to (1) conduct community outreach and notice to stakeholders (e.g., community boards, tenant associations, health providers, opioid service nonprofits), (2) develop a neighborhood engagement plan and community advisory board with local volunteers, and (3) implement a community relations plan to minimize negative impacts (e.g., loitering, public drug use, discarded needles). Finally, it directs the Secretary to submit to Congress, not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter, a report on community engagement for such programs, including performance data, best practices guidance, and policy recommendations.