Opioid crisis: $71.5M in federal funds coming to Ohio

Despite increased attention to opioid abuse, prescriptions have remained relatively unchanged for many U.S. patients. (Stuart Ritchie/Dreamstime/TNS)

Despite increased attention to opioid abuse, prescriptions have remained relatively unchanged for many U.S. patients. (Stuart Ritchie/Dreamstime/TNS)

Ohio will receive $71.5 million over the next two years to combat the opioid epidemic as part of an ongoing federal grant program designed to increase drug treatment access and reduce opioid-related deaths.

Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has committed another $1 billion in grants to helping states carryout their opioid epidemic strategies, the department announced Wednesday.

In Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018, HHS awarded more than $1 billion in grants to states and territories through the State Targeted Opioid Response (STOR) Grants program.

The legislative package passed by the Senate earlier this week reauthorizes $500 million per year from the 21st Century Cures Act for the grants.

 

“The more than $1 billion in additional funding that we provided this week will build on progress we have seen in tackling this epidemic through empowering communities and families on the frontlines,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

More than $55 million coming to Ohio will help to increase access to medication-assisted treatment using the three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Another nearly $16 million will enable 55 community health centers, academic institutions and rural organizations in Ohio to expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services.

Last week HHS unveiled the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which found that the number of Americans initiating heroin use dropped by about half from 2016 to 2017 and the number of Americans misusing opioids also dropped for the second year in a row.

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