States Receive $53 Million in Grants to Fight Opioid Epidemic

Forty-four states will receive a total of $53 million in grants from the Obama Administration to fight the opioid epidemic, the Los Angeles Times reports. Administration officials are calling on legislators to approve $1.1 billion requested by President Obama to increase addiction treatment.

The new state funds will include money to provide first responders with the opioid overdose antidote naloxone. Michael Botticelli, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said more help is needed. “Simply reviving people isn’t enough to turn the tide of this epidemic,” he said.

The state grants also include money for upgrading prescription monitoring programs, and expanding programs that use medication-assisted treatment for addiction.