04.20.17

Hoeven: North Dakota Receives $2 Million in Cures Act Funding to Combat Opioid Addiction

Senator Continues Efforts to Prevent Sale of Dangerous Synthetic Drugs, Support Treatment, Prevention and Recovery

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded North Dakota $2 million in funding to help fight opioid addiction. This is the first year of funding that is provided under the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation that Hoeven worked to pass in December, and can be used to support treatment, prevention and recovery activities, such as prescription drug monitoring programs, training health care providers and expanding access to opioid treatment activities.

“Opioid addiction brings significant pain and challenges for families across our state and nation,” Hoeven said. “Today’s funding is one piece in our broader work to treat and prevent addiction. This includes blocking the sale of dangerous synthetic drugs and supporting state and local efforts to improve access to vital services.”

Hoeven continues his efforts to address opioid addiction and overdose. The senator is reintroducing his Illegal Synthetic Drug Safety Act, legislation that closes a loophole that enables companies to circumvent the law and sell synthetic variations of drugs, like the powerful drug fentanyl, by labeling the products as “not for human consumption.” Hoeven also worked to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in July. The bipartisan legislation helps combat the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic by expanding prevention efforts, supporting law enforcement, improving treatment of overdoses and enhancing access to treatment and recovery services for drug addiction.

In addition to today’s funding, the Cures Act reauthorized the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, while also allowing states greater flexibility in administering the programs to meet local needs. North Dakota has received nearly $7 million from these programs since Fiscal Year 2015. As a member a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven is working to sustain support for these and other important substance abuse programs.

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