Drug addiction rates have the potential to plummet in the future. However, this remains dependent on the federal government’s $30 million harm reduction initiative moving forward as planned.
An end-of-year announcement stipulated that a $30 million fund will be designated specifically for harm reduction programs to help combat drug addiction. Currently, America is dealing with a record-high rate of fatal drug overdoses – almost 100,000 occurred in 2020. Fortunately, programs that provide naloxone kit distribution, resource connections, and needle exchanges can expect to receive plenty of financial support.
Program organizers who are interested in applying for involvement in a grant will be pleased to hear that the application process is now open. The process officially launched following an announcement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on December 8.
“This funding allows organizations to expand their community-based overdose prevention programs in a variety of ways, including distributing overdose-reversal medications and fentanyl test strips, providing overdose education and counseling, and managing or expanding syringe services programs, which help control the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C,” reads the announcement.
Program funding for the new harm reduction initiative comes courtesy of the American Rescue Plan. This spending bill, which is worth $1.9 trillion, allocated $4 billion for mental health assistance and drug addiction.
The main strategies incorporated into a drug harm reduction initiative—such as consulting with drug users in their chosen consumption spaces, dealing with conditions of use, and improving safety for users—are essential for improving social justice and mitigating the risks associated with drug use.
According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, a plan of this kind should accomplish the following:
Program organizers that work in harm reduction can now apply to receive a grant if they fall into one of four categories. Currently, according to the announcement, harm reduction program applications are being welcomed for projects that encapsulate the following:
“(1) developing and testing new harm reduction strategies; (2) examining how to effectively implement new and existing harm reduction strategies; (3) expanding the settings and delivery models through which harm reduction strategies are deployed; and (4) examining the impact of new harm reduction policies implemented at state and local levels.”
It was also revealed that, in an effort to curb drug-related overdoses, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is making harm reduction policy a priority. For more information about the Fed’s drug harm reduction program, contact the SAMHSA directly.
It’s safe to say that the wheels on the cannabis reform express have certainly been set in motion. As of April 2022, 47 states have legalized cannabis in some form or another. However, the plant’s federally illegal status—U.S. law categorizes cannabis as a Schedule I drug—means that businesses operating in this industry cannot conduct transactions with…
Cannabis’ former reputation as a gateway drug may have been dispelled, but it turns out that there is some element of truth to the rumor: The plant’s progressively evolving status as a normalized medicine in 37 U.S. states and a recreational substance in 18 U.S. states is prompting a wave of change across America’s statehouses….
Researchers working at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson have refined a method of ketamine use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Specifically, the group focused on ketamine’s ability to relieve the side effects of a common treatment called Levodopa. Nicknamed “K,” “special K,” “cat valium,” and “vitamin K,” ketamine is…
Austin decriminalized cannabis possession, Vancouver is now home to some not-so-legal magic mushroom shops, and a British woman shared her life-changing medical marijuana journey. Let’s dive into this week’s cannanews. Austin Voters Pass Cannabis Decriminalization Bill Voters in Austin, Texas, have approved Proposition A, a ballot measure that decriminalizes cannabis possession and bans no-knock warrants….
Have you ever wondered whether one can be allergic to cannabis? Some may laugh at the suggestion of one being allergic to cannabis considering its widely known safety and efficacy. However, like most substances, there may be some individuals who are allergic to it. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than…
The worldwide skincare industry, which is projected to inflate to $189.3 billion USD by 2025, could soon be merging more closely with…
There’s no denying the fact that CBD is dominating the wellness landscape. Increasing awareness of the cannabinoid’s medicinal effects is going hand-in-hand…
Whatever your reasons for consuming cannabis during the day, it’s important to know how your cannabis will affect you to avoid becoming…