August 04, 2020

Manchin, Capito Announce $7.3 Million For Overdose Prevention In West Virginia

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $7,332,338 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Violence and Injury Prevention Program: Overdose Data to Action through West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). The Overdose Data to Action program helps collect data to better prevent and respond to overdose deaths in West Virginia.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect every West Virginian and as we face this crisis, we must remember the epidemic we’ve been facing for years. The drug epidemic has ravaged our state and is being made worse by the current pandemic,” said Senator Manchin. “The Overdose Data to Action program will help West Virginia DHHR collect the best data possible to help understand, prevent, and respond to overdose deaths in our state. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this program will have on our state and as we continue to face down two crises, I will keep fighting for funding that helps West Virginia on both fronts.”

“This funding plays a crucial role in our battle to fight the addiction crisis that continues to ravage our state and taken a tremendous toll on our families and community. This crisis is increasingly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we have seen a rise in overdose deaths. Last year, I helped change the state grant formula in the Labor-HHS government funding bill, which has allowed our state to receive more robust funding in this department for the second year in a row. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am focused on making sure that states like ours that are more severely impacted by this crisis receive appropriate levels of support. That’s exactly what my changes to the state grant formula made possible. I am thankful to see this funding come to our state during a time when we need it most,” said Senator Capito.