Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
On September 4, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Ohio will get $55.8 million in grants to fight the drug epidemic – part of $1.8 billion that the Centers for Disease Control and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration awarded across the nation (Source: “Ohio Gets Almost $56 Million from Feds to Fight Opioid Abuse,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 4, 2019).
The two states that received more money were California, which got $69.8 million, and Pennsylvania – which got $55.9 million. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown said the Ohio Department of Health will distribute the money awarded to the state.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar told reporters some of the grants would provide flexible funding for state governments to support prevention, treatment, and recovery services in ways that meet the needs of their states, and others would help state and local governments track overdoses and connect those who’ve overdosed with treatment.