The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now accepting applications for the first-ever SAMHSA Harm Reduction grant program and expects to issue $30 million in grant awards. This funding, authorized by the American Rescue Plan, will help increase access to a range of community harm reduction services and support harm reduction service providers as they work to help prevent overdose deaths and reduce health risks often associated with drug use.

The purpose of the program is to support community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs, and other harm reduction services. Funding will be used to enhance overdose and other types of prevention activities to help control the spread of infectious diseases and the consequences of such diseases for individuals with, or at risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD), support distribution of FDA-approved overdose reversal medication to individuals at risk of overdoes, build connections for individuals at risk for, or with, a SUD to overdose education, counseling, and health education, refer individuals to treatment for infectious diseases such as HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and viral hepatitis, and encourage such individuals to take steps to reduce the negative personal and public health impacts of substance us or misuse.

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The video below is by Reecie Colbert, who will explain to listeners what the SAMHSA program is about, as well as alert you to a new batch of LIES that are being peddled by right-wingers or the Republican party. Unfortunately, there also seems to be an incentive for ‘theshaderoom" to spread misinformation among my community in order to increase engagement, regardless of whether that information is harmful to the community they serve but I digress. Without much adeiu, here’s Reecie Colbert.

(Please click on the VOLUME. I apologize for the grainy video)

(Please turn on the volume)

Please do NOT allow rich white people to spread lies about a program that thousands of people, across the country, need.

This is important. This program is important, and many people (some of whom live up in Connecticut, Appalachian, Iowa, etc) need the help that this program offers.

This is not about politics for me, when it comes to drug overdose. It’s about saving lives. If you know someone who needs help, please apply for this program; and don’t listen to the lies being spread.

Get help if you or a family member or friend or co-worker, needs it.