Hoeven Working to support Comprehensive Efforts to Prevent & Treat Opioid Addiction

Press Release

Senator John Hoeven today hosted a roundtable with the Fargo metro area's Blue Ribbon Commission on Addiction to outline his work to combat the growing issue of opioid abuse in North Dakota. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identified the state as one of 14 that experienced a statistically significant increase in drug overdose deaths between 2013 and 2014, from 20 to 43, respectively, and the Fargo region has experienced 20 known overdose deaths this year alone. Hoeven heard from the commission on their work to develop a comprehensive response to the increase in opiate overdoses and deaths in the region and highlighted federal opportunities to advance local efforts to improve and expand prevention and treatment services, including:

* Opioid prevention and treatment funding included in the 21st Century Cures Act
* Hoeven's Illegal Synthetic Drug Safety Act of 2016
* Expanded prevention and education efforts in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act

"The influx of opioids into our communities has brought tremendous pain and tragedy for families in our state," Hoeven said. "We are working to support a comprehensive approach, where our law enforcement, educators and health care providers, including those who attend to mental health and substance abuse, have the tools they need to prevent and treat addiction. Through measures such as the opioid funding in the Cures Act and my Illegal Synthetic Drug Safety Act, we can combat opioid abuse and save lives."

A fact sheet on the legislation can be found here.

21st Century Cures Act

The Cures Act, which Congress passed earlier this month, provides $1 billion over two years to supplement states' efforts to combat opioid addiction. The funding will be administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). The agency issued the Funding Opportunity Announcement for the program yesterday, following inquiries by Hoeven's staff. The program details can be found here.

The funds are provided to states using a formula based on the number of people who abuse or are dependent on opioids with unmet treatment needs and the number of drug poisoning deaths. North Dakota is allocated $2 million in first-year funds. The eligible applicant for the state is the Behavioral Health Division at the North Dakota Department of Human Services, and applications are due by February 17, 2017.

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