[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 76 (Friday, April 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 18765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08068]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Opioid State Targeted Response Grants

    Opioids were responsible for over 33,000 deaths in 2015; this 
alarming statistic is unacceptable. Through a sustained focus on 
people, patients, and partnerships, this crisis can be addressed across 
our nation.
    Last month President Trump announced the President's Commission on 
Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. This Commission is 
tasked with studying the scope and effectiveness of the federal 
response to this crisis and providing recommendations to the President 
for improving it. As the Administration develops a comprehensive 
strategy to improve the federal response to combat opioids, the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must ensure the Opioid 
State Targeted Response grants are aligned accordingly and put to the 
best use possible. Given the urgency of the issue, we understand the 
need to release the funding for the first year of this program 
immediately. However, the intentions of HHS for the second year are to 
develop funding allocations and policies that are the most clinically 
sound, effective and efficient.
    In the interest of ensuring that these resources are applied in the 
best manner possible, I will be seeking input from the states/
territories in the coming weeks and months. As funding from the first 
year is implemented and monitored, states/territories will be asked to 
identify best practices, lessons learned, and key strategies that can 
help HHS further target these funds in the subsequent year to best 
address this tragic issue.

    Dated: April 13, 2017.
Thomas E. Price,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-08068 Filed 4-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P