Friend,
Last night, President Trump addressed Congress. He mentioned fentanyl, which is a concerning drug for all Americans. We need to be serious about keeping people safe from fentanyl, which means prioritizing the treatment, overdose prevention, and health services that do just that.
What was not mentioned by Trump? The proposed funding cuts from him and Congress that threaten the very health services that protect people from fentanyl.
Trump recently mandated Congress to find nearly $2 trillion worth of cuts to pay for more immigration enforcement funding. As shared below, the tradeoff would put lifesaving health services that protect people from fentanyl and overdose on the chopping block. These include access to the opioid/fentanyl reversal medication naloxone, medications for opioid use disorder that cut overdose risk, and other forms of treatment and overdose prevention.
Act now: demand the Trump administration and Congress preserve funding for addiction treatment and health services that help people stay alive, be safe, and recover.
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BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE
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From: Kassandra Frederique
Sent: 3/3/25
To: [email protected]
Subject Line: URGENT: Trump’s Funding Cuts Jeopardize Overdose Prevention and Recovery
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Dear Friend,
Americans from all walks of life are deeply concerned about addiction, overdose, and the impact of fentanyl. And when it comes to solutions, Americans broadly agree that access to treatment, the opioid/fentanyl reversal medication naloxone, and other health services are critical for saving lives and offering a path to recovery. We know these solutions work.
Read my Q&A for more on these solutions, and the serious threat they face from federal funding cuts. President Trump’s cuts would be devastating: more lives lost to overdose, increased suffering, and people struggling with addiction having nowhere to go.
According to the CDC, there was a 24% decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12 months ending in September 2024. The CDC itself credits treatment and naloxone as key factors for the decrease, and advocates for “expanding access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders—including medications for opioid use disorder such as buprenorphine and methadone.” Yet, these lifesaving services are on the chopping block and it could reverse course on overdose deaths going down.
Trump used the legitimate fear of fentanyl to rally support for “tough on immigration” policies, but his and Congress’ funding cuts threaten the health services that protect people from fentanyl. He recently mandated Congress to find nearly $2 trillion worth of cuts to pay for more immigration enforcement funding. Effective strategies to keep people safe from fentanyl are at risk as a result, as the administration creates the conditions for more loss.
Now is the time to unite, speak out, and act.
Use your voice to demand the Trump administration and Congress preserve funding for addiction treatment and health services that help people stay alive, be safe, and recover.
Volunteer or donate to organizations in your community that support addiction recovery, overdose prevention, and harm reduction. Consider giving to the Drug Policy Alliance to help us advocate for the necessary resources to save lives, prevent overdose deaths, and support recovery. And share my Q&A with people who want to learn more about why preserving federal funding is so critical.
Every one of us deserves the chance to live a safe and healthy life. We can make it happen if we fight for it. We must fight for it.
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In Solidarity,
Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance
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