JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska is set to receive a $2 million federal grant to help fight addiction to heroin and other opioids.
The funding is part of a larger disbursement of grants for prevention and treatment efforts across the country.
Gov. Bill Walker says the funding will be critical to ongoing state efforts to fight opioid abuse.
In a release, Walker’s office says it is assessing which programs and services it will direct the funding.
In February, Walker declared rampant opioid abuse a public health disaster and proposed spending existing federal grants on a multiyear program for naloxone distribution. Naloxone is a drug that can help prevent overdose.
Rather than just extending the declaration for another year, the Legislature approved allowing a standing medical order for the naloxone program through June 2021.
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