Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff Announce Grants to Address the Local Opioid Epidemic
***Press Release***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 27, 2018 | Contact: Kate Stotesbery 202-225-4865 |
Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff Announce Grants to Address the Local Opioid Epidemic
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-San Antonio) and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announce two critical grant awards for Bexar County from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance. These funds will be used for the Bexar County Opioid Prevention and Intervention Program, which will focus on residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and the hiring of a full-time planner to create a community wide strategic plan. Additionally, a portion of these funds will be used to treat women with mental illnesses and co-occurring opioid addition.
Congressman Doggett noted:
"This $1,650,000 over three years, represents a major step forward in addressing our local opioid epidemic. Bexar County leads the state in infants born addicted to opioids. San Antonio also has the third highest per capita rate of overdose deaths. Securing these resources has been a bipartisan effort involving all of our Congressmembers.
"As an active participant in our Joint Opioid Taskforce, I have seen the leadership of Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Metro Health Director Dr. Colleen Bridger, and Dr. Bryan Alsip, University Health System. While this is an important first step, I look forward to approval of modest, new federal opioid legislation tomorrow in Congress and to continue working together to access additional federal dollars to backup our local response to the opioid crisis. Lasting success includes prioritizing prevention and treatment services, expanding naloxone training and distribution programs, and reducing soaring monopoly prices for these lifesaving overdose reversal drugs."
"Thanks to Congressman Doggett and the entire Bexar County congressional delegation for a strong bipartisan effort to help us fight the opioid epidemic. Substance abuse has a profound impact on our criminal justice system, our hospitals, and our social services agencies. The Bexar County opioid task force is a model for inter-agency collaboration to fight substance abuse in our community," said Judge Wolff.
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