Feds grant $4 million to Oregon for opioid treatment
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., is applauding new resources to combat the opioid crisis in Oregon. As part of newly released grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Oregon will receive more than $4 million though the State Opioid Response grant program, which helps communities expand access to opioid abuse and addiction treatment services.
“We lose more Oregonians to drug overdoses than car accidents and this opioid crisis has hit every community in our state. Combating opioid abuse in Oregon requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Walden said in a news release.
“These needed resources will provide support to the law enforcement, first responders, medical providers, and treatment advocates on the front lines of this fight in Oregon. Paired with my legislation that is now law – the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act – and the past funding Oregon has received through this program, this new funding will bolster our efforts to tackle the opioid crisis from all angles for victims and families in our communities.
“While we made great strides last Congress, our work is far from done, and I will continue to work alongside my colleagues and people on the ground in Oregon to stem the tide of addiction and save lives.”
The $4,109,241 Oregon will receive is part of an additional $487 million to supplement first-year funding through its State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program. The grants are part of HHS’s Five-Point Opioid Strategy to combat the opioid crisis.
Walden’s legislation, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6), is a bipartisan bill that was signed into law last year. He said the law will help in overall efforts to combat the opioid crisis by advancing treatment and recovery initiatives, improving prevention, protecting our communities, and bolstering our efforts to fight deadly illicit synthetic drugs like fentanyl.
Walden’s office said in a news release Wednesday he has been at the forefront of the Congressional response to the opioid crisis, leading efforts to pass landmark legislation to combat opioid abuse and investigate the bad actors contributing to the spread of the crisis.
