U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) recently announced that Tennessee has received $1 million from two federal grants to help the state stop opioid abuse.
The money will also be used to increase awareness about how dangerous it is to overprescribe opioids and share medication.
“Each year, more than 1,000 Tennesseans die from opioid abuse or overdose — this is an epidemic taking more Tennessee lives than car accidents or gunshots do,” Alexander said. “The way to fight this epidemic is not to wage a distant battle from Washington, but for Washington to support those who are fighting on the front lines. This grant will help prevent opioid abuse, and raise awareness of some of the dangerous habits that lead to opioid abuse.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) granted the funds to Tennessee as one element of the government’s “Opioid Initiative.” The goal is to improve practices for prescribing opioids, broaden access to medication-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder, and heighten how much naloxone is used to prevent or reverse opioid overdoses.
There were 21 other tribes and states that gained funds from this Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Prescription Drugs program, under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
In August, Alexander was part of the team that drafted the legislative agreement, called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. After passing both Houses, the president signed it into law. The goal is to resolve the opioid crisis that is prevalent in many areas of the U.S.
