Credit: WCBC Radio

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. David Trone (MD-06) hailed the announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that states would receive more than $1.8 billion in federal funding to combat the opioid crisis. This funding includes $33.2 million in funding for Maryland from State Opioid Response (SOR) grants.

”The opioid crisis kills more Americans every year than died in the Vietnam war, said Rep. David Trone. “The health care providers and community advocates on the front lines of this fight need the certainty of consistent federal funding, not piecemeal grants. Congress must pass my bill to provide this certainty for the next five years so states can plan for the long-haul and end, once and for all, this epidemic.”

In May, Trone introduced the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, which would authorize for five years the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Grants. This bill would guarantee long-term funding for states to combat the opioid crisis. These important programs provide funding to states to reduce overdose related deaths through prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.