Bloomberg (8/31, Beckwith, Subscription Publication) reports, “The Biden administration announced a $450 million effort to fight overdoses caused by fentanyl and other opioids amid a nationwide surge that has become a 2024 campaign issue.” In a briefing Thursday, “White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden said…the money would be spent on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services, as well as cracking down on drug trafficking.”

The Hill (8/31, Gangitano) reports, “The investment on Thursday also includes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarding more than $57.6 million to connect Americans to substance use treatment and recovery support services.” And the CDC “will award $279 million in Overdose Data to Action grants to states and localities to expand harm reduction strategies.”

Related Links:

— “Biden administration announces $450M in funding to beat overdose epidemic,”Alex Gangitano, Bloomberg, August 31, 2023

CBS News (8/31, Saint Louis) publishes a KFF article that reports, “Since the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline transitioned a year ago to the three-digit crisis phone number 988, there has been a 33% increase in the number of calls, chats, and texts to the hotline.” But “even with that early sign of success, the program’s financial future is shaky.” Although “the federal government has provided about $1 billion…to launch the number,” after that, “it’s up to states to foot the bill for their call centers.”

Related Links:

— “Most states have yet to permanently fund 988 Lifeline despite early successes,”Christina Saint Louis, CBS News, August 31, 2023

Healio (8/31, Weldon) reports, “Depression among children did not increase substantially between 2004 and 2019, according to the” findings of a 41-study systematic review and meta-analysis published online Aug. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Study: Depression among children ‘uncommon’ in years before pandemic,”Rose Weldon, Healio, August 31, 2023

Healio (8/30, Hornick) reports, “The impact of COVID-19 extends beyond those who get infected and evokes symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD in their families, according to two studies published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society.” In one study, investigators “analyzed 90 families of patients who had COVID-19 between September 2020 and April 2021 to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress while their relative was in the ICU compared with after their time in the ICU.” In the other study, researchers “assessed 115…family members of patients with COVID-19 in the ICU across five states to understand how PTSD symptoms vary at different times points within 1 year of their relative entering the ICU.”

Related Links:

— “Families of patients with COVID-19 suffer with anxiety, depression, PTSD,”Isabella Hornick, Healio, August 31, 2023

The New York Times (8/30, Hoffman, Weiland) reports, “Narcan, the first opioid overdose reversal medication approved for over-the-counter purchase, is being shipped to drugstore and grocery chains nationwide, its manufacturer said Wednesday.” Earlier this summer, the FDA “gave over-the-counter approval to RiVive, a naloxone spray expected in early 2024. RiVive, manufactured by Harm Reduction Therapeutics, is intended as a low-cost product largely for outreach groups.” Pharmacies at “Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Rite Aid said they expected Narcan to be available online and on many store shelves early next week.”

NBC News (8/30, Lovelace) reports the FDA’s approval means the drug “can be sold in even more places, including…airports and even vending machines.” It “could also be available to buy online from some businesses this week.” However, its price tag of $44.99 for two doses “may put it out of reach for some.”

CNN (8/30, Tirrell, Kounang) also reports.

Related Links:

— “Narcan Is Headed to Stores: What You Need to Know,”Jan Hoffman and Noah Weiland, The New York Times , August 30, 2023