Morgan Griffith on Federal Funding for the Opioid Crisis

From U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith, R-VA-9:

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More Resources to Fight the Opioid Crisis

On September 4, the Trump Administration announced the release of $1.8 billion in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help communities around the country fight the opioid crisis.

$20.4 million of that money will go to Virginia in support of efforts here in the Commonwealth.

The federal funds come from two sources. The first, State Opioid Response grants, were originally created, authorized, and reauthorized by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I serve. They are awarded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and go to state governments for their prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

Overdose Data to Action grants, awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), help collect information on overdoses, supporting the development of better policies.

Virginia’s portion of these funds will be split between the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Health. By supporting efforts to combat addiction and overdoses at the state level, HHS is providing flexibility for states and communities to find the solutions that match their circumstances.

These funds are the latest resources devoted by Congress and the Trump Administration toward turning the tide in this deadly epidemic. Encouraging signs of progress can be found. CDC Director Robert Redfield recently observed that the provisional overdose death count in 2018 declined by 5%, the first decline in two decades.

Virginia has been deeply affected by the opioid crisis, with enormous quantities of pain pills pouring into some of our cities, towns, and communities. If these provisional numbers are confirmed, the decrease in overdose deaths is certainly welcome news.

Nevertheless, now is no time to become complacent, as the crisis shifts away from prescriptions pills and heroin that characterized it toward synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. From my place on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will continue to support policies that will make a difference in the fight and conduct oversight to make sure they are carried out properly.

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