New York’s U.S. Senators have announced $25 million in federal funding to combat opioid addiction in the state.
Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the funding Thursday. The $25 million comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants program. The money will support local prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
The HHS funding is the first of two rounds provided under the 21st Century Cures Act, enacted by Congress and signed by former President Barack Obama in December 2016.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is administering the funding, nearly 2 million Americans abuse or are addicted to prescription opioids and nearly a half million more are addicted to heroin.
