WASHINGTON – The federal Health and Human Services (HHS) Department announced that the U.S. government will award $94 million to 271 drug treatment centers in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the nation’s capital.
At the same time as this announcement, Jackie Cornell-Bechelli, HHS regional director, led a conference call for the media and treatment centers to give details about this new initiative.
“We are experiencing an opiate epidemic throughout our country, not just in urban areas, but also in suburban and rural communities as well.
“In New Jersey, in 2014 an average of 100 lives were lost each month. Death by drug overdose has now eclipsed car accidents as the leading cause of death in the U.S. This is truly an alarming situation and so the HHS has identified three priorities that we will focus on through this new grant:
“Help health professionals make more informed prescriptions by eliminating the use of opiates rather than just curbing their use.
“Make Naloxone (also known as Narcan) more readily available to first responders to reverse overdose crises that they handle as urgent, on-the-scene care.
“Expand what we term ‘Medical Assistance Treatment’ or MAT which combines medical treatment with counseling and behavioral treatment.”
Cornell-Bechelli explained that 90 percent of drug treatment centers throughout the country are at 80 percent capacity or higher. “This indicates a real desire by these individuals to combat their addiction but the volume of potential need and their complexity is overwhelming,” she said.
Per HHS information, New Jersey will receive about $1 million for three treatment centers that will allow these facilities expand their resources to screen, expand treatment access and train health staff regarding how and when to prescribe opiates.
While Cornell-Bechelli did not provide the location of those centers, she noted that according to 2013 statistics, the state ranks well below the national level, at 47th, for level of opiate prescriptions which is a positive sign.
“The crisis we are seeing of patients moving from painkillers or other opiates to cheaper heroin is absolutely devastating and we all probably know someone in our community or even our family who is fighting the terrible problem of drug addiction,” Cornell-Bechelli concluded.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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