Health and Human Services announces $53M to 44 states and four tribes to fight opioid addiction

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that 44 states and four Native American tribes will receive $53 million to fight opioid addiction. HHS said in a statement that funds will be used "to improve access to treatment for opioid use disorders, reduce opioid-related deaths and strengthen drug-misuse prevention efforts. In addition, funding will also support improved data collection and analysis around opioid misuse and overdose as well as better tracking of fatal and nonfatal opioid-involved overdoses."

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Principal Deputy Administrator Kana Enomoto said in a statement: “The epidemic of opioid use disorders involving the non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers and the use of heroin has had a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities across our nation. These grants will help address the key elements of the opioid crisis by promoting effective prevention efforts, preventing overdose deaths and helping ensure that people with opioid use disorders are able to receive vital treatment and recovery support services.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in June announced $1.4 million in funding for five Appalachian projects to fight opioid addiction. President Obama earlier this year asked Congress for $1.1 billion in new funding over two years to expand treatment for the epidemic.