Pennsylvania Receives $10 Million Grant for Opioid Programs
"My administration has made fighting the opioid epidemic one of its top priorities, and this collaboration with Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow us to take an in-depth look at the areas where we can supplement our programs to successfully assist more Pennsylvanians," Gov. Tom Wolf said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf accepted a $10 million grant from Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and World Health Organization Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases, at the inaugural Bloomberg American Health Summit, and the money will be used to strengthen state and local opioid prevention and treatment efforts. Wolf was a featured speaker at the event.
"My administration has made fighting the opioid epidemic one of its top priorities, and this collaboration with Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow us to take an in-depth look at the areas where we can supplement our programs to successfully assist more Pennsylvanians," Wolf said. "I want to see an end to opioid use disorder in Pennsylvania, and this is a step in the right direction."
His release said Pennsylvania was selected as the first state for this partnership because of the toll the epidemic has taken and the work the state has already done to fight the opioid crisis. Following the summit, Wolf and Bloomberg visited Philadelphia's Bridge Way School and Thomas Jefferson University Maternal Addiction Treatment Education and Research to see those facilities' unique opioid use disorder treatment programs.
"Pennsylvania has been one of the states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, but Governor Wolf has been a real leader on the issue," Bloomberg said. “We'll work to help him tackle opioids from every angle – and save more lives around the state. Together, we'll identify the best ways to curb this critical public health crisis and create a blueprint for change across America."
The release said Bloomberg Philanthropies will work with the Wolf administration during a three-year period. Targeted funding areas will include staffing, technical assistance, and data collection.