HHS debuts $30M grant program meant to curb opioid epidemic
In 2020, overdose deaths increased more than 30%, leading to more than 93,000 deaths, driven by fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
Photo: Shana Novak/Getty Images
While it may be overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic is still in full effect in the U.S., and on Wednesday the Department of Health and Human Services announced a harm reduction grant program to support community harm reduction services that curb and treat addiction.
Grants made available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Harm Reduction grant program are intended to increase access to harm reduction services and support harm reduction service providers.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said funding for the grant program will come from the American Rescue Plan to the tune of about $30 million.
"Overcoming addiction will not be easy, and it won't happen overnight," he said. "While we can't prevent someone from using these substances, we need to prevent them from dying. It's not about stigmatizing them and pushing them into the shadows."
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
According to Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of national drug control policy at the White House, the U.S. sees about 100,000 opioid-related overdoses in a typical 12-month period. An American dies every five minutes due to an opioid overdose – a rate inflated by the prevalence of fentanyl, which is essentially a synthetic form of heroin.
"This is an unacceptable situation, and it requires an unprecedented and urgent response," said Gupta. "We must use every tool available to us to save lives."
Overdose deaths were rising prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2020 there was a further significant increase in overdose deaths. According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths increased more than 30% in 2020, leading to more than 93,000 deaths. This increase was driven by the use of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, and stimulants, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, or combinations of substances.
Pandemic restrictions intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have unfortunately also made it harder for individuals with substance use disorders to receive treatment and support services.
Providing funding for harm reduction services is one pillar of a four-pillar approach being implemented at the federal level. Evidence-based harm reduction strategies minimize the negative consequences of drug use, according to HHS.
The other three pillars of the administration's opioid mitigation strategy are primary prevention, focusing on the root causes and predictors of substance use disorder, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support.
"Each day we're losing enough people to fill a Boeing 757 passenger jet, so I'm calling on Congress to pass the president's budget, with a record $48 billion to address overdoses and the opioid epidemic," said Gupta. "The bottom line is this: The administration will continue to do everything in our power to reduce overdose deaths."
Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use and the leader of SAMHSA, said Wednesday that the grant program will distribute $10 million over the next 10 years to support harm reduction services in communities – part of a broader administration effort to reduce health disparities for minority and underserved communities.
"Funding will reach every segment of society," said Delphin-Rittmon. "Harm reduction providers await this long-awaited support."
THE LARGER TREND
The Biden Administration revealed the four-pillar opioid-mitigation strategy in October. That same month, as part of a $1.5 billion investment through HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration, a number of health workforce loan repayment and scholarship programs were announced, with funding set aside for the opioid epidemic.
Through dedicated funding for substance use disorder professionals, HRSA is now supporting more than 4,500 providers treating opioid and other SUD issues in hard-hit communities. The Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program was launched in FY 2021 to create loan repayment opportunities for several new disciplines that support HHS' response to the opioid crisis, including clinical support staff and allied health professionals.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com