State receiving federal funds to combat opioid epidemic

Ohio will receive $26 million in federal funding to help combat the opioid epidemic ravaging the state.

The money is part of $485 million in grants given out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Funds come from the 21st Century CURES Act passed in December 2016.

Over the course of two years, roughly $1 billion is being allocated to battle the opioid epidemic.

According to HHS, funding will support a “comprehensive array” of prevention, treatment and recovery services depending on the needs of recipients. Funding is being issued to all 50 states, Washington, D.C., as well as four U.S. territories and the free associated states of Palau and Micronesia. The states and territories were awarded funds based on rates of overdose deaths and unmet need for opioid addiction treatment, according to HHS.

“Opioids were responsible for over 33,000 deaths in 2015; this alarming statistic is unacceptable to me,” HHS Secretary Tom Price said in a letter sent to governors. “We cannot continue to lose our nation’s citizens to addiction. Through a sustained focus on people, patients and partnerships, I am confident that together we can turn the tide on this public health crisis.”

Price added in his letter to the governors that he wants to “ensure the resources and policies are properly aligned with and remain responsive to this evolving epidemic.”

“Therefore, while I am releasing the funding for the first year immediately, my intention for the second year is to develop funding allocations and policies that are the most clinically sound, effective and efficient,” Price said. “To that end, in the coming weeks and months, I will seek your assistance to identify best practices, lessons learned, and key strategies that produce measurable results.”

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, fought to have opioid funding included in the 21st Century CURES initiative. Following the announcement of the $26 million in funding, Portman said, “Good news for Ohio,” adding it will help efforts to combat the heroin and prescription drug epidemic gripping the state.

“My visits to treatment and recovery facilities in Eaton and Massillon (recently) once again highlight the glaring need for additional resources to combat this epidemic,” he said.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, DOhio, also supported the bill and along with other Senate colleagues, urged President Donald Trump earlier this month to release the funds immediately, criticizing a slow rollout.

Brown said he’s glad to see the resources secured last year were finally announced and will help individuals and their family get the treatment they need.

“The release of this funding is an important step, but we know that there is more work to be done,” Brown said. “Congress and the administration must continue to support federal treatment, prevention and recovery efforts, and at the same time, recognize that any cuts to federal addiction resources will only set us back as we work to tackle the opioid epidemic in Ohio.”