Xavier Becerra United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | Official Website
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement on the release of new drug overdose death data. "When President Biden took office in January 2021, the overdose death rate was increasing 31% year-over-year. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that drug overdose deaths fell 3% over the past year—the first decline in more than five years," he said.
In 2021, HHS launched the Overdose Prevention Strategy, which mobilized communities across the country and provided historic amounts of funding to states, tribes, and community organizations. "We are executing on a data-driven strategy that focuses on the root causes of the crisis and the key evidence-based interventions we know can drive down overdose deaths," Becerra stated.
He added that this new data confirms their efforts are yielding results. "Drug overdoses destroy lives, families, and communities. But we have the tools and shared commitment across our nation to take on this challenge. And we have."
Becerra also noted that the Biden-Harris Administration has invested billions of dollars and significant expertise to combat the overdose epidemic. They have established and expanded Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which provide crisis services around-the-clock to anyone who requests care for behavioral health issues.
Moreover, they have assisted rural communities in addressing difficulties they face in providing and accessing buprenorphine—a life-saving medication to treat opioid use disorder that can be prescribed in routine health care settings—and other critical services. They have also made Naloxone available over-the-counter at pharmacies and grocery stores.
"These results show that our efforts are working. But we aren’t satisfied. HHS will continue to focus on the full range of solutions needed to address addiction for as long as necessary,” concluded Becerra.
