Mike Bloomberg and Gov. Tom Wolf at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia last week.
Credit: PA Internet News Service
Billionaire businessman and politician Michael Bloomberg visited the Keystone State last week to announce his nonprofit was granting $10 million to help Pennsylvania with opioid prevention and treatment efforts.
Bloomberg Philanthropies is the first state to get funds from the nonprofit to fight the opioid epidemic. The program will work over the next three years to fund areas including staffing, technical assistance, and data collection.
Bloomberg and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf visited the Bridge Way School, a high school for students in recovery, and Thomas Jefferson University Maternal Addiction Treatment Education and Research in Philadelphia last week to discuss the partnership.
“My administration has made fighting the opioid epidemic one of its top priorities, and this collaboration with Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow us to take an in-depth look at the areas where we can supplement our programs to successfully assist more Pennsylvanians,” said Wolf. “I want to see an end to opioid use disorder in Pennsylvania, and this is a step in the right direction.”
“Pennsylvania has been one of the states hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, but Governor Wolf has been a real leader on the issue,” said Bloomberg. “We’ll work to help him tackle opioids from every angle – and save more lives around the state. Together, we’ll identify the best ways to curb this critical public health crisis and create a blueprint for change across America.”
The funding is on top of Pennsylvania’s continuing efforts to fight the opioid epidemic.
