Bloomberg Philanthropies commits additional $120 million to reduce overdose deaths in U.S.
Five new states – Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Wisconsin – will join Michigan and Pennsylvania in program expansion as overdose deaths increase during COVID-19 pandemic
NEW JERSEY – As the U.S. reckons with record-breaking drug overdose deaths during the COVID-19 epidemic, Michael R. Bloomberg Wednesday announced that Bloomberg Philanthropies is making a five-year, $120 million investment to help combat the overdose crisis in the hard-hit states of Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
This investment brings Bloomberg Philanthropies’ total commitment to the Bloomberg Opioids Overdose Prevention Initiative, which was launched in 2018 with $50 million, to $170 million over eight years.
The Overdose Initiative is expanding at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has made the overdose epidemic significantly worse. Preliminary data of 2020 from CDC shows the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a single year in U.S. history; more than 93,000 people died representing a 30% increase from the previous 12-month period. CDC data also shows that seventy-five percent of these overdose deaths were opioid related.
The announcement was made at the 4th annual Bloomberg American Health Summit — an event of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bloomberg American Health Initiative at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – which brings together experts and innovators creatively tackling some of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges. The five new states that will join the Overdose Prevention Initiative will each receive $10 million in support over the next five years, with Pennsylvania and Michigan receiving an additional $4 million above the initial 2018 investment throughout the next three years. All of these states have a high burden of overdose deaths, falling within the top 25 states with the highest drug overdose death rates in 2019 and all having increased overdose deaths in 2020.
The program – a partnership with the CDC Foundation, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Johns Hopkins University, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Vital Strategies – will support our work including in five new states to scale existing efforts and implement new programs, and to advocate for federal policies to expand treatment access and harm reduction with a goal of accelerating progress in reducing overdose deaths. The state work will include funding for technical assistance, direct services, and embedded staff at government agencies and other organizations to support state and locally led interventions. Decisions on use of these funds will be made in partnership with the state leadership. The program will also continue to support Michigan and Pennsylvania.
“The overdose epidemic is one of the worst public health crises we’ve ever faced –254 Americans die every single day from drug overdoses. It’s tearing families apart across the country, and we need bolder, nationwide action, especially from the federal government – but we can’t afford to wait until that happens,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, who announced the investment at the Bloomberg American Health Summit today. “Bloomberg Philanthropies is expanding our work to confront the crisis, by building on the data-driven approach we’ve taken in Pennsylvania and Michigan, where we’ve made some important progress. We will now begin working in five more states: Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Wisconsin. We know we can save lives from this crisis, and we will.”
The prior investment in Michigan and Pennsylvania saw significant results and including lives saved over the past three years. The CDC NCHS vital statistics data showed that prior to the pandemic, Michigan and Pennsylvania both saw decreases in overdose deaths. When COVID-19 infection rates reached their highest points, the CDC data shows both states saw lower increases in overdose deaths than the national average.
The expansion will draw upon learnings from Michigan and Pennsylvania to communicate best practices and create models that can be replicated in the rest of the United States. States will focus on ensuring medication access and availability, engaging local communities and supporting people who use drugs. Additionally, our partners will emphasize a health equity approach to overdoses, as Black Americans have disproportionally been affected by overdose deaths.
The Bloomberg American Health Summit is organized by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, created in 2016 with a $300 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Initiative works to apply public health tools and strategies to five critical challenges facing American communities—addiction and overdose; environmental challenges; risks to adolescent health; violence; and obesity and the food system. The Bloomberg American Health Initiative has awarded more than 200 fellows full-tuition to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where they then work for at least one-year in their respective organizations. Through this manner, the initiative has supported more than 183 collaborating public health groups.
“In New Jersey, we’ve made incredible strides in our fight against the opioid epidemic through a comprehensive, data-driven approach, and increasing access to both addiction treatment as well as life-saving harm reduction interventions,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment will allow us to continue our current efforts and implement new, innovative strategies to further support individuals impacted by the opioid crisis. We are determined to help anyone struggling with addiction find the path to recovery and put an end to this epidemic once and for all.”
