State Gets $10 Million To Combat Opioid Crisis
The fight against opioid addiction just received a $10 million boost from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona on Tuesday.
The medical insurance company announced the launch of a grant program dubbed, “Mobilize AZ,” encouraging innovation, education and improved access to treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Arizona saw a 20 percent increase in opioid deaths last year.
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s President and CEO Pam Kehaly spoke about what that looks like day to day.
“When I tell you that, on average, four people die every day in Arizona as a result of opioid overdose, it becomes a devastating number with a startling significance,” she said.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has reported more than 10,000 opioid overdoses in the state since June 2017, including nearly 1,600 resulting in deaths.