Congressman David Trone Joins HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to Announce New Federal Overdose Prevention Strategy

Press Release

Yesterday, U.S. Congressman David Trone (MD-06) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra visited Health Care for the Homeless to announce a new federal strategy to reduce overdoses. The strategy is designed to increase access to the full range of care and services for individuals who use substances that cause overdose and their families. The strategy also focuses on the multiple substances involved in overdose and the diverse treatment approaches for substance use disorder.

The strategy prioritizes four key target areas--primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support--and reflects the principles of maximizing health equity for underserved populations, using best available data and evidence to inform policy and actions, integrating substance use disorder services into other types of health care and social services, and reducing stigma.

"The strategy is a rubber-meets-the-road effort that will help our communities immensely," said Congressman Trone. "None of these efforts are silver bullets alone but, taken together, they will reduce harm and save lives until we can finally end this epidemic once and for all. In Western Maryland, we've been fighting on the front lines against skyrocketing opioid fatalities during the pandemic. I look forward to working with Secretary Becerra to deploy this strategy in Maryland as soon as possible."

"With this new strategy, we're breaking new ground to address the full range of drug use and addiction that can result in overdose and death," said Secretary Becerra. "We're changing the way we address overdoses. Our new strategy focuses on people -- putting the very individuals who have struggled with addiction in positions of power. And thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we can address what so many people have seen in recent years: a rise in overdoses that can risk a person's life -- and affect their entire family."

The Congressman and Secretary were joined by:

Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Regina LaBelle, Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, White House
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott
Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby
Kevin Lindamood, President and CEO of Health Care for the Homeless
The group toured Health Care for the Homeless and hosted a roundtable with stakeholders, including people recovering from addiction.

Maryland's Health Care for the Homeless provides health-related services, education, and advocacy to reduce the incidence and burdens of homelessness. In partnership with caregivers, advocates, donors and our neighbors without homes, they provide comprehensive health care services and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness; apply a whole-person approach to care, considering all aspects of life and health in an individual's treatment; and advocate for affordable housing and livable incomes for all. In 2020, over 9,000 individuals and families got care and support to move toward better health and stability.

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