WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden this week issued a proclamation declaring next week as “Overdose Awareness Week”.
The President in a statement said, “The overdose epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on our Nation, claiming the lives of far too many Americans and devastating families and communities across the country. During Overdose Awareness Week, we renew our commitment to taking bold action to prevent overdoses and related deaths. We continue our efforts to enhance prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders and addiction. We affirm our duty to stop the flow of illicit drugs from reaching our communities.”
Experts say over 100,000 people have died from drug overdoses since the beginning of 2021.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services released an Overdose Prevention Strategy that calls for greater access to services for those suffering from addiction and their families.
Biden went on to say, “We are also changing how we help people with substance use disorder in a variety of ways. We are working to expand access to high-impact harm reduction interventions like naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, and to remove barriers to effective treatment. We are addressing the underlying factors that lead to substance use disorder and addiction. We are targeting drug trafficking organizations by disrupting the operating capital they need to sustain their criminal enterprises.”
Overdose Awareness Week begins Sunday and runs through September 3.