Biden Administration To Fund Distribution Of Smoking Kits, Needles To Drug Addicts

The Biden administration is to grant $30 million over the next three years in an effort to address drug use and overdose issues, intending to distribute smoking kits and syringes to addicts as part of the program. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency under Health and Human Services (HHS), will distribute $10 million per year over the next three years for a harm reduction grant program. The agency said the program is “unprecedented” and “the first-ever.” According to the program (pdf), grant funds “must be used primarily to support the following required harm reduction activities,” including purchasing equipment and supplies such as “safe smoking kits/supplies” and “syringes to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.” Other harm reduction equipment and supplies include infectious disease testing kits, overdose reversal medication, and safe sex kits. SAMSHA said in awarding the grants, it would prioritize funding for programs …  » Read full article