WH denies grant funds would let orgs buy pipes for drug addicts

2022-09-04 08:28:53 By : Ms. sunshine ST

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The Biden administration denied a report Wednesday that it was mandating nonprofits and local governments use grant money on pipes for crack cocaine and crystal meth smokers.

The 75-page announcement of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) nearly $30 million Harm Reduction Program Grant includes a list of “required harm reduction activities” the money must be used for, including the purchase of “equipment and supplies to enhance harm reduction efforts, such as … Safe smoking kits/supplies.”

The Washington Free Beacon initially reported Monday, citing a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson, that “Safe smoking kits/supplies” included pipes for users of hard drugs.

However, a HHS spokesperson told The Post Wednesday that the outlet’s description of the Department’s response was “inaccurate.”

In their response to the Free Beacon, which was shared with The Post, the HHS spokesperson did not mention pipes and had said “SAMHSA does not specify the kits’ elements – only the parameters.” 

“The Harm Reduction Grant … is a grant program designed to help Americans who are struggling with substance use stay healthy and safe, prevent overdose death, and find pathways into evidence-based treatments,” the spokesperson added. “Like all programs that use federal funding, these grants must adhere to relevant federal, state and local laws or regulations.”

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that pipes “were never a part of the kit.”

“It was inaccurate reporting and we wanted to put out information to make that clear,” said Psaki, who added that the kits could include “alcohol swabs, lip balm, other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.

“I would note that what we’re really talking about here is steps that we’re taking as a federal government to address the opioid epidemic, which is killing tens of thousands — if not more — Americans every single day, week, month of the year,” she went on. “We put out the statement, though, because there was inaccurate information out there.”

In its own statement, HHS insisted “no federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits.”

“The Administration is focused on a comprehensive strategy to stop the spread of drugs and curb addiction, including prioritizing the use of proven harm reduction strategies like providing naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and clean syringes, as well as taking decisive actions to go after violent criminals who are trafficking illicit drugs like fentanyl across our borders and into our communities,” read the statement from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Dr. Rapul Gupta. “Accordingly, we will continue working to address the addiction and overdose epidemic and ensure that our resources are used in the smartest and most efficient manner.”

The grant announcement further states that applicants must affirm that at least half of their “total population(s) of focus” belong to “underserved communities,” as defined in an executive order signed by President Biden on the day of his inauguration.

Those communities, as defined in the order, include “Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.”

Other “required harm reduction activities” grant money must be used for include distributing FDA-approved overdose reversal medication; testing kits for infectious diseases, including HIV; medication lockboxes; safe sex kits, including condoms; screening for infectious diseases; medication disposal kids; substance test kits; syringes; vaccination services; and wound care supplies. 

The department has since clarified that grant money cannot be used on creating a safe injection site, and has also noted that syringe distribution is not a “required activity” under the terms of the award.

Funding recipients are limited to states; local, tribal, and territorial governments; tribal organizations; nonprofit community-based organizations; and primary and behavioral health organizations.

Applications for the grant closed on Monday and SAMHSA is expected to award funds to roughly 25 recipients in May. The grant program will last up to three years and provide up to $9,750,000 per year or $29,250,000 over three years.