Administration kicks off Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week

Sep 19, 2016 - 04:18 PM

Federal agencies will participate this week in more than 250 events as part of Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week, proclaimed Friday by President Obama to raise awareness about the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. Among other activities, the Department of Agriculture today awarded $4.7 million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine program grants to support 18 projects to expand access to health care, substance use treatment and educational opportunities in 16 states. USDA also announced a series of state forums that will bring together government officials, medical professionals, law enforcement and other stakeholders to forge partnerships and identify possible solutions. For more information, see the White House factsheet.

Related News Articles

Headline
CMS approves waiver to expand WV Medicaid treatment for SUDs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver allowing West Virginia to expand its benefits…
Headline
AHA recommends federal actions to address opioid crisis
Eliminating the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease exclusion for adults under age 65 would help improve access to treatment for those with severe or…
Headline
AHA comments on draft recommendations to address opioid crisis
AHA yesterday provided feedback on a presidential commission’s draft recommendations to expand the federal response to the drug addiction and opioid…
Headline
ISMP releases medication safety self-assessment tool
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices yesterday released a tool to help hospitals and outpatient facilities evaluate their safety practices for “…
Headline
FDA issues medication-assisted treatment guidance
Medication-assisted treatment using buprenorphine and methadone should not be withheld from patients taking benzodiazepines or other drugs that suppress the…
Headline
NAM issues guide to help clinicians counter opioid epidemic
The National Academy of Medicine today issued a guide to help clinicians counter the opioid epidemic. Developed by national experts on substance use disorders…