Last week the Obama Administration shared the news about $53 million in additional funding to address opioid dependency and overdoses by expanding availability and use of naloxone, which is a drug that helps to reverse an opioid overdose. Although the money is very much appreciated and will definitely help save lives, it is only one of a few small grants that fall short from the $1.1 billion that President Obama asked from Congress.
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director Michael Botticelli said that “simply reviving people isn’t enough to turn the tide of this epidemic.” He pleaded with legislators, indicating that they “must act to provide sufficient resources to make life-saving treatment available to everyone who seeks it.”
The announcement coincided with International Overdose Awareness Day, which aims to highlight the need for more education, prevention, intervention and treatment worldwide to save more lives from drug abuse. Currently there are approximately 100,000 people who die each year around the globe due overdoses, with nearly half of them coming from the United States alone.
Arizona is reportedly one of the states with the highest overdose rates, and will therefore receive additional funding for various treatments and medications, including buprenorphine. Although medications like naloxone and buprenorphine can be invaluable life-saving tools, rarely are they enough to solve the problem, as treatment must also include other valid forms of therapy to address the root causes of an individual’s substance abuse.
Desert Cove helps people from Arizona and around the country recover from addiction every day. If you or a loved one has a problem with opiates or any other substances, contact us today to find out more about how we can help.
