CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s senators and U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., have announced that West Virginia will receive a nearly $6 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help combat the opioid crisis.
A joint press release from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said that Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price announced the grants as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in America. The grants will be awarded to all 50 states and total $485 million. West Virginia’s share is $5,881,983.
The grant is provided for by the 21st Century Cures Act, which Rep. Jenkins proudly supported when it passed the House in November 2016 and when it was funded in December. The grant will fund expanded access to treatment, education and prevention.
“This grant will help West Virginia combat the drug crisis and offer more treatment options for people seeking a path out of addiction. ... Our community and recovery leaders already have plans on how to put these funds to work to help others, and I know these plans will make a real different in our fight.”
Jenkins added that he will continue to champion West Virginia’s needs and make sure the state receives the resources needed to stop this public health crisis.
Sen. Capito commented, “I applaud the president and Secretary Price for providing the resources I advocated for in the 21st Century Cures Act toward combating the opioid epidemic. This is an important step, but one of many we must take. The priorities the secretary outlined are welcomed and needed. I agree with him that every effort and available resource should be at our disposal to fight this scourge that is harming so many West Virginians.”
Manchin said that the funding provided for by the 21st Century Cures Act will ensure that West Virginians have access to comprehensive treatment options including prevention and addiction recovery throughout the state.
“This will continue to move our country and our state in the right direction and gets us closer to ending the opioid epidemic once and for all,” Manchin said. “I’d like to thank Secretary Price for recognizing West Virginia’s need for this important funding and quickly administering funding to support West Virginians on the front lines helping families and communities struggling with opioid addiction.”
To combat the ongoing opioid crisis, SAMSHA and the U.S. Health and Human Services are prioritizing five key strategies: strengthening public health surveillance, advancing the practice of pain management, improving access to treatment and recovery services, targeting availability and distribution of overdose-reversing drugs, and supporting cutting-edge research. States and territories were awarded funds based on rates of overdose deaths and unmet needs for opioid addiction treatment.