WPRO News and The Associated Press

Rhode Island has been awarded $12.6 million in federal funding to combat opioid addiction.

The state’s congressional delegation and Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

State Police and Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the grant money would be used to launch a new so-called “HOPE Initiative”, that would team law enforcement officers in a proactive effort with recovery coaches and other professionals to try to curb the rise of opioid-related deaths.

“It’s critical,” said Chris Herren of the new approach. The one-time NBA star who famously lost his career to drug and alcohol addiction spoke with some 80 law enforcement personnel at the announcement.

“It’s a huge opportunity to get through to that person struggling, as well as support their families who want nothing more than their loved one to get help,” said Herren, who launched the Herren Project which provides addiction recovery services.

Rhode Island’s funding rose from $2.1 million last year to $12.6 million due to the omnibus appropriations law, which the members of the delegation supported.

They say the law included a $3.3 billion boost this year to prevent addiction and opioid overdoses.
Rhode Island will use its funding to boost prevention efforts, expand treatment options and recovery support services, create a statewide pre-arrest diversion program and purchase medication designed to reverse an opioid overdose.

There were 323 accidental drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island last year, down from 336 in 2016.