TIC

Kentucky to receive $10 million to fight drug epidemic

In December when Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called it an important step in helping foster solutions for heartbreaking illnesses like addiction. is week, the federal government took another important step in the ght against the drug epidemic by announcing $485 million in grants to help states and territories combat opioid addiction. “Opioids were responsible for more than 33,000 deaths in 2015, this alarming statistic is unacceptable to me,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price in a release. “We cannot continue to lose our nation’s citizens to addiction. rough a sustained focus on people, patients, and partnerships, I am condent that together we can turn the tide on this public health crisis." e Cures Act authorized $1 billion in funding for state grants to address the opioid epidemic over two years. Kentucky will receive nearly $10.5 million during this round of funding. “Kentucky has been particularly hard hit by the opioid and drug addiction crisis.” -Rep. Andy Barr

Two rounds of funding is provided for in the Cures Act and this round will be provided through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), according to an HHS release. Doug Hogan, spokesperson for the state cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), said the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (BHDID) is the lead state agency on the project. “Priority populations we hope to impact include pregnant and parenting women with an opioid abuse disorder; incarcerated individuals with opioid abuse disorder who are re-entering the community; and individuals treated for an overdose in Emergency Room settings,” Hogan said in a statement to e Register. “Additionally, these funds will help us implement strategies for preventing opioid abuse and overdoses; practices for opioid abuse treatment — particularly Medication Assisted Treatment; and increased access to treatment and recovery support services.” Hogan noted the state was notied earlier in the year of the funding opportunity. It gathered input from community mental health centers and providers before submitting its grant proposal.

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