On February 7, 2023, the White House released a fact sheet outlining President Biden’s 2023 vision for advancing his four-part Unity Agenda: prioritize mental health, drive transformational innovation to fight cancer, deliver on the country’s commitments to Veterans, and address the drug poisoning crisis.
To address the drug poisoning crisis, the Biden-Harris Administration plans to:
1. Deliver more life-saving naloxone to communities hit hard by fentanyl.
The Department of Health and Human Services will undertake new efforts to help states use existing funding to purchase naloxone and distribute it in their communities. Naloxone is used to rapidly reverse or reduce the effects of opioid poisoning. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will provide technical assistance to states with State Opioid Response funds and will host learning forums, national policy academies, and meetings with organizations distributing naloxone.
2. Ensure every jail and prison across the nation can provide treatment for substance use disorder.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons will ensure that all 122 of their facilities are equipped and trained to provide in-house medication-assisted treatment. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will provide guidance that allows states to use Medicaid funds to provide health care services—including treatment for people with substance use disorder—to individuals in those facilities prior to their release.
3. Build on historic progress to drastically expand access to medications for opioid use disorder.
The Administration will work with medical professionals to ensure that buprenorphine is part of routine healthcare delivery and that manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies are making medications available to everyone with a prescription.
Read the factsheet here.