NC H824

Creates a new requirement for the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to develop and distribute free educational materials about long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods to women receiving alcohol or substance use disorder treatment.

Materials must include medically accurate information on LARC methods approved by the FDA, medical processes for initiating and discontinuing use, benefits, risks, side effects, and contraindications specific to each method.

Educational materials must explain the effects of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure on developing fetuses and newborns.

Requires local health departments, state-operated alcohol and drug treatment centers, and participating federally qualified health centers to distribute printed materials to female clients receiving treatment services; private providers are encouraged but not required to distribute materials.

Explicitly prohibits any requirement that women use LARC methods as a condition for receiving alcohol or substance use disorder treatment or services; becomes effective October 1, 2017.