Biden-Harris Administration Calls for Historic Levels of Funding to Address Addiction and Overdose
Today, The Biden-Harris Administration submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The Budget invests an unprecedented $41 billion in public safety and public health approaches to address addiction and the overdose epidemic, including significant increases for prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Within the budget, more than 57% of all requested funds are for demand reduction activities, a category that includes prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery.
The President’s FY2022 tracks closely with the Administration’s first-year drug policy priorities. The requested investment of $10.7 billion in the Department of Health and Human Services will help expand access to evidence-based prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s FY22 request includes for the first time ever a 10% set aside for recovery supports. At the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), $705.0 million in funding is requested in FY 2022 to support the substance use disorder responses in community health centers and in rural America.
The Administration is also making critical investments to reduce the supply of illicit substances in the United States. This includes increases for efforts to interdict illicit drugs and disrupt international drug trafficking networks. It also means funding increases for ONDCP’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, which strengthens collaboration between Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement and public health officials working to reduce drug trafficking and overdoses in communities all over the country.
With rising levels of overdoses in the United States, President Biden’s critical investments highlight our commitment to turning the tide of the overdose epidemic. This funding will help build the addiction infrastructure we need to help Americans prevent, treat, and recover from substance use disorders, while also working with public safety and international partners to stem the supply of illicit substances.
As always, thank you for all you are doing to help make our communities healthier and safer.
Best,
Regina LaBelle Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy
Contact ONDCP’s Office of External and Legislative Affairs at MBX.ONDCP.OELA@ondcp.eop.gov