Rhode Island has been awarded $12.6 million in federal funding to combat opioid addiction.
The state’s congressional delegation and Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Rhode Island’s funding rose from $2.1 million last year to $12.6 million due to the omnibus appropriations law, which the members of the delegation supported.
They say the law included a $3.3 billion boost this year to prevent addiction and opioid overdoses.
Rhode Island will use its funding to boost prevention efforts, expand treatment options and recovery support services, create a statewide pre-arrest diversion program and purchase medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose.
There were 323 accidental drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island last year, down from 336 in 2016.
