Stabenow, Peters Welcome $27.9 Million in Federal Funding for Michigan to Address Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI) welcomed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s announcement today that it will award a $27.9 million federal grant to Michigan to address the opioid crisis. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will receive this funding to help affected families and communities combat the ongoing epidemic through expanded access to treatment and prevention efforts as well as real-time data.

“Families all across Michigan have been hit hard by the opioid epidemic and face many barriers in getting treatment,” said Senator Stabenow. “This funding will be a huge boost to our communities by expanding access to treatment and prevention programs.”      

“In every corner of our state, the opioid crisis has impacted the lives of too many Michiganders,” said Senator Peters. “I’m pleased that Michigan is receiving this federal funding to strengthen prevention efforts and access to treatment. These resources will make a difference for families and communities across our state battling this epidemic. I will continue advocating for federal efforts that support Michigan’s work to aggressively combat this public health crisis.”

The $27.9 million grant is part of the approximately $1.8 billion in HHS funding that will help states across the U.S. combat the opioid crisis, which also includes around $900 million in new funding from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Funding from the CDC is a part of a three-year cooperative agreement with states, territories and localities to promote awareness of the crisis and bolster prevention programs and response initiatives across the country. The additional funding will be administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the State Opioid Response grant program, which the Senators voted to increase funding for by $500 million in fiscal year 2019.

Stabenow and Peters have led numerous efforts in Congress to address the opioid crisis. Last year, Stabenow and Peters coauthored a letter requesting HHS to take immediate action to reduce the price of naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug. They also helped lead a bipartisan effort to push Senate leadership to reauthorize funding for community health centers that actively address the opioid epidemic.

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