Ohio would get an estimated $45 million over two years to fight the opioid epidemic under a national program outlined Tuesday by the Obama administration. The $1.1 billion proposal from Obama, which must still be approved by Congress, would expand access to drug treatment, particularly medication-assisted treatment, federal drug czar Michael Botticelli said in a national conference call.

Ohio would get an estimated $45 million over two years to fight the opioid epidemic under a national program outlined Tuesday by the Obama administration.

The $1.1 billion proposal from Obama, which must still be approved by Congress, would expand access to drug treatment, particularly medication-assisted treatment, federal drug czar Michael Botticelli said in a national conference call.

"This is one of the most pressing issues facing our country," Botticelli said. "The president has made addressing this epidemic a key priority of his administration. ...

"Everyone who seeks treatment for an opioid disorder should be able to access it."

The president's plan calls for distributing money over two years to reduce treatment costs, primarily for the uninsured and under-insured.

Botticelli said the financial estimates for states are based on the severity of the drug problem, including the number of overdose deaths in 2014 and the "gap" of people needing treatment who are unable to get it.

Ohio had 2,482 overdose deaths in 2014, a 17.6 percent increase over the previous year. More than 12,000 Ohioans have died from overdoses since 2002.

Ohio's $45 million share would be fifth highest in the nation, after California ($78 million), Texas ($48 million), Florida ($47 million) and Pennsylvania ($46 million). Ohio also had the nation's fifth highest rate of overdose deaths, more than double the national average.

However, congressional consideration is mired in political infighting, said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, who was on the conference call.

"I think we are not going to see anything happen very soon. While we're quibbling about who's going to be on the committee of conference, people are dying," Shaheen said.

The White House cited several existing federal initiatives already underway, including a proposed rule to expand treatment by increasing the number of patients physicians can serve with medication-assisted treatment, boosting training for health care professionals on prescribing opioids, providing $94 million to community health centers nationwide and adding Ohio and Michigan to the regional High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.

The state breakdown of estimated funding is located at https://www.whitehouse.gov/factsheets-prescription-opioid-abuse-and-heroin-use.

ajohnson@dispatch.com

@ohioaj