President Obama Addresses Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic

In remarks delivered at the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, this afternoon President Obama discussed a range of actions being taken to address the nation’s prescription opioid abuse and heroin epidemic. This epidemic involves increases in unsafe and unsterile injection practices, which put people who inject drugs at high risk for both HIV and hepatitis infection.

Among the broader set of public and private sector actions to strengthen the fight against the prescription opioid abuse and heroin epidemic that the President and the White House highlighted today was the new HHS guidance regarding the use of federal funds to implement or expand syringe services programs (SSPs) for people who inject drugs (PWID).

Read the White House Fact Sheet: Obama Administration Announces Additional Actions to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic Read about the HHS SSP Guidance