HHS Launches Effort To Combat Opioid Abuse

Combating opioid abuse, dependence, and overdose is a priority for Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell’s evidence-based opioid initiative focuses on three targeted areas: informing opioid prescribing practices, increasing the use of naloxone, and expanding the use of medication-assisted treatment to treat opioid use disorder.

Secretary Burwell announced three steps to increase access to substance use disorder treatment services, including treatment for opioid prescription drug abuse and heroin use. Information about these new actions to combat opioid abuse include:

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make $100 million in new . . .