The Eagle-Tribune: States Could Get Funds to Battle Opioid Abuse

BOSTON -- The state could be in line for $20 million in federal money to widen treatment for opioid addiction as part of a White House proposal.

If approved by Congress, the plan would send money to states based on their fatal overdoses in 2014 and their “treatment gap" -- a measure of the number of addicts seeking treatment but who cannot get it due to scarcity or cost.

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget includes $920 million for states to expand opioid prevention, treatment and recovery. Massachusetts could be eligible to apply for up to $20 million over two years.

Massachusetts had the nation’s 13th highest rate of fatal overdoses in 2014, according to the White House, with nearly 20 people in every 100,000 dying from drug poisoning. That's slightly higher than the national average of 14.7 for every 100,000 people.

Hard-hit New Hampshire ranked 3th in the nation that year, with an average of 26 out of 100,000 people experiencing an accidental opioid overdose. It could get $5 million from the program.

West Virginia ranked top in the nation, with 35 overdoses per 100,000.

Michael Botticelli, director of National Drug Control Policy, told reporters in a conference call Tuesday that 78 deaths per day from heroin, fentanyl and opioid medications stem in part from "a shortage of treatment providers and facilities across the country, particularly in rural areas.” He urged Congress to approve the funding.

"It goes without saying that this opioid epidemic is one of the most pressing issues facing our country," he said.

But passage of the program is anything but certain in Congress, amid a wrangle over the budget.

Democratic lawmakers proposed tacking on Obama's $1.1 billion funding request, which includes the money for the states, as an amendment to the Defense Department budget. The Republican-controlled Senate voted it down last Thursday.

Members of the state's all-Democrat congressional delegation say the Beltway funding battle is costing lives.

“A spokeswoman for Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. said the congressman also doesn’t believe Congress is providing enough financial support to states to combat the crisis.” Spokeswoman Carrie Rankin stated, “Seth feels that it is time for Republicans to join Democrats and work together to address the addiction epidemic ravaging communities throughout our country.”

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