Vermont will get $4 million during the next four years from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent overdose deaths caused by prescription opiate drugs.

New York was not among the states to receive funds.

Funds will be used to improve controlled substances prescribing practices and to evaluate drug overdose prevention interventions for prescription drugs and heroin, according to a press release from McConnell’s office.

“The “Prescription Drug Overdose” program, as part of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Opioid Initiative, will make a strong investment in 16 states, giving them the resources and expertise… to help prevent overdose deaths related to prescription opioids”, the release read.

Putting prevention into action in communities nationwide and encouraging education of providers and patients about the risk of prescription drug overdose.

Editor’s note: What role can packaging/labeling play in addressing prescription drug overdoses?

Working with health systems, insurers, and professional providers to help them make informed decisions about prescribing pain medication.

It is also meant to help track heroin-related deaths.

Frieden said at the conference that Tennessee, which has previously received grant money from CDC to fight prescription drug abuse, is one of the hardest hit states.

Addiction to prescription narcotics is widely seen as a path to heroin addiction.