R.I. joins multistate effort to combat drug overdoses

PROVIDENCE – The state will receive $3.76 million in federal funding over four years to boost efforts to prevent deaths due to drug overdoses.

Rhode Island is one of 16 states that will receive funding through the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention for States Program, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and state congressional leaders announced earlier this month.

Since 1999, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled, according to a release. More than 16,000 people died nationwide from prescription opioid overdoses in 2013. Heroin deaths have also been on the rise, with more than 8,000 overdose deaths in 2013 – a nearly threefold increase since 2010.

“We need to treat the overdose crisis as a public health crisis and focus our attention on treatment, recovery and prevention,” Raimondo said. •

- Advertisement -

No posts to display