U.S. Dept. Of Health And Human Services Releases Statement Following Reports Of Providing Drug Paraphernalia To Drug Users

On Tuesday, reports that the Biden Administration was reportedly finalizing a $30 million grant to provide drug users with drug paraphernalia surfaced. After receiving mixed reactions, The Shade Room obtained an exclusive statement from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

A spokesperson for the organization stated, “These comments are misleading and misinformed. Too many Americans have lost their lives to drug overdose. Evidence-based community harm reduction services such as naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and syringe services programs help people stay alive and are proven strategies for addressing this tragic epidemic.”

The HHS spokesperson continued, “The Harm Reduction Grant Program offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is designed to put these services within reach for Americans who are struggling with substance use so they can stay healthy and safe, avoid overdose death, and find pathways into evidence-based treatments.”

According to the information provided by HHS, “Provisional data from CDC released November 17 show that we have crossed the tragic milestone of a predicted 100,000 overdose deaths in 12 months from May 2020 to April 2021; this represents a nearly 29 percent increase compared to the same window of time last year.”

The HHS also explained more about the Harm Reduction Plan, “Harm reduction is a collaborative process and uses a non-judgmental approach to “meet people where they are, but not leave them there.Harm reduction services treat all individuals with dignity, compassion, and respect. Harm reduction provides life-saving services to individuals with substance use disorders and connects them to other critical health and support services that may not have been accessible to them before.”

It’s also stated that “SAMHSA intends to distribute these funds at nearly $10 million per year over the next three years. This opportunity for funding is open to existing grantees and new applicants.”