Story highlights White House had previously proposed virtually eliminating office that fund opioid addiction

Opioid overdoses have reached epidemic levels, according to the CDC

Washington (CNN) The Trump administration is backtracking on plans to nearly eliminate the Office of National Drug Control Policy, asking Congress to fund a number of the programs that drug treatment advocates believe have helped fight the scourge of opioid addiction.

According to Richard Baum, acting director of National Drug Control Policy, President Donald Trump's proposed budget supports $27.8 billion in drug control efforts. The budget request still includes major proposed cuts, but they are less than previous suggested changes.

The High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Program would receive $91.9 million in 2018, down from $95 million in 2016, and the Drug-Free Communities Program could receive $246.5 million in 2018, down from $250 million in 2016. Congress is unlikely to accept most of the Trump proposals.

The administration had planned to virtually eliminate the White House office tasked with fighting opioid abuse, according to a draft memo obtained by CNN earlier this month. That memo said the office would receive a a near 94% cut in 2018, from a $380 million budget to $24 million.

Opioid overdoses have reached epidemic levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A study from the agency found that 25% of all drug overdose deaths were related to heroin in 2015. That number was just 6% in 1999.

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