Jan 21, 2020

Feds allow use of opioid funds to stem meth, cocaine surge

Posted Jan 21, 2020 3:47 PM
Photo courtesy: Matthew T Rader
Photo courtesy: Matthew T Rader

The nation's drug addiction crisis has been turning in a deadly new direction with more Americans struggling with meth and cocaine.

Now the government will allow states to use federal money earmarked for the opioid crisis to help people addicted to those drugs as well.

The change to a $1.5 billion opioid grants program was buried in a massive spending bill that Congress passed late last year.

Lawmakers of both parties, as well as the Trump administration, backed the change.

Though opioid overdoses kill more people nationally, meth is the deadliest drug in many states west of the Mississippi.