WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVVA) – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $35,384,899 to West Virginia to combat the opioid epidemic. President Donald Trump also announced these grants at the White House this afternoon.

The first grant for $28,027,511 was awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as part of its State Opioid Response grants. 

The second grant for $7,357,388 was awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of a three-year cooperative agreement known as the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A). The purpose of the program is to advance the understanding of the opioid epidemic and improve prevention and response efforts.

“Federal funding like this plays an important role in contributing to the fight to end the drug epidemic that is devastating so many families and communities across West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “Making sure these funds are available is one of my top priorities as a member of the Appropriations Committee, but it’s even more important to me that these funds are going to states like ours with the greatest needs.”