HHS Initiative Addresses Opioid-Related Drug Overdose, Death and Dependence

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a $133 million initiative to reduce prescription opioid and heroin-related overdose, death and dependence. The initiative will focus on three priority areas:

1) Providing training and educational resources, including updated prescriber guidelines, to assist health professionals in making informed prescribing decisions and address the over-prescribing of opioids. This includes teaching medical professionals how and when to prescribe opioids by working with lawmakers on bipartisan legislation requiring specific training for safe opioid prescribing and establishing new opioid prescription guidelines for chronic pain; supporting data sharing for safe prescribing by facilitating prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and health information technology integration and further adoption of electronic prescribing practices; and increasing investments in state-level prevention interventions, including PDMPs, to track opioid prescribing and support appropriate pain management.

2) Increasing use of naloxone, as well as continuing to support the development and distribution of the lifesaving drug, to help reduce the number of deaths associated with prescription opioid and heroin overdose. This includes supporting the development, review and approval of new naloxone products and delivery options; promoting state use of Substance Abuse Block Grant funds to purchase naloxone; and implementing the Prescription Drug Overdose grant program for states to purchase naloxone and train first responders on its use.

3) Expanding the use of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), a comprehensive way to address the needs of individuals that combines the use of medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. This includes launching a grant program in FY2015 to improve access to MAT services through education, training and purchase of MAT medications for treatment of prescription opioid and heroin addiction; and exploring bipartisan policy changes to increase use of buprenorphine and develop the training to assist prescribing.

On March 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention for States program to provide state health departments with resources to enhance their PDMPs and advance innovative prevention efforts. The funding will support approximately 16 states.