On March 26, 2015, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services ("HHS") Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced a new initiative targeting prescription opioid-related overdose, death, and dependence. The initiative will provide training for health care professionals on specialized prescribing methods; promote the development and increased use of naloxone, an opioid antagonist that can reverse the effects of narcotic drugs such as heroin; and expand medication-assisted treatments for substance use disorders.
In her press release, Secretary Burwell described opioid abuse as "a devastating epidemic facing our nation" that must be addressed through targeted action involving all stakeholders. The federal initiative follows similar action by some states, which have enacted new rules to help quell the rising tide of opioid overdoses. According to HHS, deaths related to heroin increased 39 percent between 2012 and 2013.
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