This report focuses on the federal resources available from the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to assist state governments in addressing the adverse impacts of the opioid epidemic.
The opioid epidemic is a pressing public health and safety concern in states and communities across the country. State governments have introduced legislation and signed into law measures to curb the opioid epidemic by addressing opioid education, awareness, prevention, and treatment; however, the epidemic and its expanding, long-term effects have strained the ability of states to provide critical services for those whose lives have been adversely affected by the epidemic. In an effort to address this nationwide epidemic, BJA's Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP) was authorized under the federal 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. COAP's purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments in planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the opioid epidemic. The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) has been incorporated into the FY 2019 COAP solicitation. Its purpose is to improve collaboration and strategic decision-making among regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health entities in addressing prescription drug and opioid abuse, save lives, and reduce crime. Some of COAP's effective policy strategies are outlined in this report.