HHS Awards $1 Billion to Fight Opioid Crisis

February 16, 2019 by Alec Stone MA, MPA, Former ONS Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy
Alec Stone
Alec Stone MA, MPA, ONS Public Affairs Director

Recognizing the continuing impact of the national opioid epidemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has dedicated $1 billion in funding (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/09/19/hhs-awards-over-1-billion-combat-opioid-crisis.html) through a new awards program called the Five-Point Strategy to Combat the Opioid Crisis (https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/hhs-response/index.html). The program will empower communities to implement strategies to curb opioid abuse and addiction.

"Addressing the opioid crisis with all the resources possible and the best science we have is a top priority for President Trump and for everyone at HHS," Alex Azar, HHS secretary, said. "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."

A priority for the Trump administration, opioid intervention continues to be a major public health issue that representatives on both sides of the aisle are committed to addressing.

Elements of the large grant are broken into blocks and include:


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