RESEARCH PROGRAM ON COMORBID POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

SEC. 201. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON COMORBID POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.(a) Program Required.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, through the Office of Research and Development, carry out a program of research into comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder.(b) Discharge Through National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.—The research program required by subsection (a) shall be carried out by the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In carrying out the program, the Center shall—(1) develop protocols and goals with respect to research under the program; and(2) coordinate research, data collection, and data dissemination under the program.(c) Research.—The program of research required by subsection (a) shall address the following:(1) Comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder.(2) The systematic integration of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder with treatment for substance use disorder.(3) The development of protocols to evaluate care of veterans with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder.(d) Funding.—(1) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012, $2,000,000 to carry out this section.(2) Availability.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the National Center on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for the purpose specified in that paragraph.(3) Supplement not supplant.—Any amount made available to the National Center on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for a fiscal year under paragraph (2) is in addition to any other amounts made available to the National Center on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for such year under any other provision of law.122 STAT. 4120