FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2019 Atlanta, GA
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse calls on the Georgia Congressional Delegation to support H.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act.
This important, bipartisan legislation authorizes State Opioid Response (SOR) grants and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grants for 5 years because there is currently no underlying authorization.
The bill authorizes $1 billion per year, which includes $50 million for TOR grants. No changes are made to the grant programs or their funding formulas. With this legislation, we can help to provide much-needed certainty to states and communities that are relying on these grants to help address the acute needs associated with the opioid crisis.
In Georgia, SOR funding has been used to:
- expand treatment capacity within already existing opioid treatment provider network
- start a peer recovery “warm line” that is open year-round for individuals and families seeking or in recovery to speak with a recovery coach
- implement a peer recovery coach program in three NE Georgia emergency departments, and
- fund several prevention and educational programs, such as the “Georgia Recovers” project.
Over the last three years, life expectancy in the United States has declined and this is due in large part to an increase in overdoses connected to the opioid epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) data highlight yet another disturbing fact: Americans are now more likely to die of an opioid overdose than in a car crash.
We can and must do better to combat this crisis plaguing every state in the country.
On behalf of the over 800,000 people in Recovery across Georgia, the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse urges our Georgia Congressional Delegation to join together with 100% bi-partisan support.
We ask each Member of the Georgia Delegation to co-sponsor this important, lifesaving legislation. Georgia communities are already stronger and safer because of these grants. Let’s continue the great work already started to save lives and strengthen Georgia communities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Principal Co-Sponsors: Rep. David Trone (D-MD), Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R – ND), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D – NJ), and Rep. Denver Riggleman (R – VA).
SOR and TOR grants were first implemented in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-141). The money distributed through these grants has helped states and local entities build out their responses to the crisis through providing additional treatment beds, hiring the workforce necessary to expand treatment and recovery options, bridging gaps identified in systems of care, supporting robust prevention campaigns, as well as many other approaches. The grants are awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) according to a formula that includes a 15% set aside for the 10 states hit hardest by the epidemic.
The above may be attributed to:
Jeff Breedlove
Chief of Communications and Policy for The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
404-615-5735
jeff@gasubstanceabuse.org
