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ANCHOR (KTUU) – Authorities announced on Wednesday that a $ 1 billion grant had been dispersed to address the looming threat of opioids in America, what was previously called a national public health emergency.
Among these funds, the US Department of Health and Human Services said that more than $ 10 million would go to Alaska.
According to an HHS press release, $ 4,027,823 will be used to improve access to drug-assisted treatment with the three FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of opioid dependence.
The other portion, $ 6,385,572, will be used to expand treatment center coverage in Alaska to include substance use disorders and mental health issues.
The goal is to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths in Alaska, which turns out to be difficult at almost all stages, according to recent data that shows that deaths from opioid fentanyl are increasing. considerably in Alaska.
While the Administration of Addiction and Mental Health Services said that the use of opioids had declined for the second year nationwide, indicating encouraging progress in the fight against opioid epidemic, Alaska figures increase in opiate use and opioid-related deaths.
Admiral Brett Giroir, deputy secretary of health and senior advisor for opioid policy, said the $ 1 billion grants will be spent in different ways to promote their approach to the fight against drugs. epidemic of opioids.
"With these new funds, states, tribes and communities across America will be able to advance our strategy and continue to make progress against this crisis," said Mr. Giroir in a statement.
But money alone is not the answer and the department knows it.
Another important element of the problem, generally considered one of the main drivers of the epidemic, is the excessive prescription of potent analgesics in the form of controlled opioids.
Bill Walker, who said the situation was a disaster in 2017, has highlighted the correlation between high prescribing rates and the increase in drug addiction and overdose cases.
To this end, HHS also announced progress, indicating that from January 2017 to August 2018, the amount of opioids prescribed in America would have decreased by 21%.
On Tuesday, the US Food and Drug Administration announced new barriers for service providers, which aim to limit the prescription of opioid pain medications to patients, including requiring more specific training for health care providers.
In a statement posted on the FDA website, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said, "As part of our extensive work in this area, we are taking further steps to streamline prescribing and reduce overall exposure to these drugs. new drugs. Many people who become addicted to opioids will have their first exposure in the medical setting. "
This sentiment, which is gaining increasing acceptance in the fight against the opioid epidemic, is also working to divert those responsible for the direct damage caused by opioids and to target health care providers and large pharmaceutical companies.
"Providers have a vital role to play in ensuring that these products are properly prescribed to patients," Gottlieb said.
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