Charleston Leader

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced that West Virginia is eligible for nearly $46 million in federal aid from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to combat the opioid crisis through its State Opioid Response (SOR) program.

“In our battle against the addiction crisis, we must continue to connect West Virginia’s substance use and prevention organizations with the resources they need. That’s why through my role on the Appropriations Committee—and now as the top Republican of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee—I have worked hard to make sure our state has the resources it needs to combat the crisis, including creating new solutions like the measure I authored to prioritize funds for states hardest hit by the crisis. This funding opportunity can open more doors to help West Virginia overcome the challenge drugs, especially deadly opioids like fentanyl, pose in our communities,” Ranking Member Capito said.

According to recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdoses nationally fell from 111,029 in 2022 to 107,543 in 2023, a 3% decrease. However, during that same period, opioid overdoses rose 1.34% in West Virginia.

Due to language authored by Ranking Member Capito prioritizing states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, West Virginia is eligible for $45,758,863 in SOR funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024—a larger portion than it would have received otherwise.

Ranking Member Capito raised this issue in 2017 during an HHS Budget Request hearing when initial discussions began on how to assist severely affected states. Prior to this change, funds were distributed based on population size which often disadvantaged West Virginia. Capito’s language sets aside 15% of funds for states with high mortality rates from opioid use. This provision led to millions in additional funds for West Virginia; without it, West Virginia would have received significantly less under state formula allocations.

SAMHSA SOR funding includes resources aimed at:

- Enhancing efforts around opioid overdose reversal medications such as Naloxone and Nalmefene.

- Increasing focus on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for transitional-aged youth and young adults (ages 16-25).

- Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) within correctional settings.

- Emphasizing a whole-person approach that considers physical health, mental health, and social supports.

At their six-month follow-up appointment after receiving treatment through SOR programs, 78% of individuals reported not using illicit drugs.