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McConnell announces that Kentucky to get $31.48 million, part of State Opioid Response Grants Program


U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced Wednesday that Kentucky will receive $31.48 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the State Opioid Response Grants Program.

This program was created by the 21st Century Cures (CURES) Act that McConnell shepherded through Congress in 2016.
 

Mitch McConnell

“Kentucky is leading the national response to the devastating opioid epidemic, and the federal resources will reinforce their life-saving work,” said Senator McConnell. “As Senate Majority Leader, I helped ensure these funds are directed to the hardest-hit states, including Kentucky, where they can have the greatest impact. Although our Commonwealth recently marked the largest decline in overdose deaths in over a decade, important work remains.

“The Trump administration and I will continue our commitment to providing federal support to address the scourge of substance abuse with comprehensive solutions. We’ll continue working together to help more Kentuckians maintain long-term recovery and to save lives.”  
 
“The recent reduction in Kentucky overdose deaths has demonstrated that the increased support from our federal partners is making a huge difference in the Commonwealth,” said Van Ingram, the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the hard work of so many Americans in local communities, we are beginning to win the battle against the opioid overdose crisis,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “We will continue executing on the Department’s 5-Point strategy for combating the opioid crisis, and laying the foundation for a healthcare system where every American can access the mental healthcare they need.”
 
Wednesday’s announcement follows recent news that preliminary figures from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 2018 saw the first nationwide decline in drug overdose deaths since 1990. In the prior 28 years, overdose deaths climbed. But in 2018 that number finally dropped. It was approximately a 5 percent decline nationwide.

Kentucky saw overdose deaths fall by nearly 15 percent last year — the largest drop in the state in more than a decade.


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2 Comments

  1. Susan says:

    I honestly don’t have anything for MR.Trump myself. However I think this is awesome. I’m very pleased to see that someone understands drug addiction. So many people want to judge and call addicts worthless trash not realizing that it could hit their own front steps at anytime. They don’t understand that most of the time it starts with a regular Doctor me visit. I’m a recovering addict myself and I struggle every single day and will fight this addiction until the good lord takes me home. I would love to become a counselor for addicts because I do love each and every soul that has this unfortunate disability to face. I understand where they come from and how easy it is to get addicted in a blink of an eye. I started using drugs at the age of 38 yrs. it started with my doctor prescribing me Percocet 30 milligram I took them the first month as prescribed but I couldn’t see my doctor before I ran out. I honestly was so sick I couldn’t function at all still not realizing I was already addicted to them. When I did get my next script and I took two of them for my pain I was instantly cured of my upset stomach diarrhea and shaking sweating. I realized it that day and I couldn’t control it m. I spiraled out of control. I have been an addict since 2010 till present. Even though I don’t take pills anymore I still have very bad days when I get upset. Or my pain gets horrible again. So with all that being said I would just like to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH. We need people like you on our sides.

  2. Deloris says:

    I think the government should do something about the people making drugs and not going as fast as they can after the little people. I think they should try to be helped and get clean without it costing their families their life earning to help them. If they get the bigger people then the little ones would have to try all over again but a lot of them want to get clean but can’t afford it so what do they do? They need housing when they get out so instead of tearing down houses or motels or apt’s try putting them in it for awhile and if that don’t work then tear it down. Some of the people taking drugs they have just lost someone they loved or lost a job or one of their parents got remarried and their spouses don’t want them around. Or they think they found a good person until they bring their friends around to use you and then your on drugs.

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