Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has given West Virginia over $14.6 million to combat the opioid epidemic in the state.

“West Virginia has been at the frontlines of the fight against the opioid epidemic and is now ground zero for recovery efforts. This funding will enable West Virginia to provide our citizens with the help that they need in order to combat the opioid epidemic in our state," Manchin said. "Our citizens deserve the opportunity to receive treatment. As a member of the Appropriations committee, I will continue to fight to ensure that West Virginia receives the federal funding and support we need to prevent overdose deaths,”

The funds come from the HHS's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, which gives grants to help states increase access to treatment to opioid addicts, provide prevention and recovery activities to combat opioid addiction, and address other needs.

“The drug epidemic has devastated so many families and so many communities across West Virginia, and federal funding like this plays an important role in helping us fight back against the opioid crisis,” Capito said. “I helped change the state grant formula in the Labor-HHS government funding bill last fall, and the benefits of that change are evident today with this distribution of resources. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, it’s been my goal not only to ensure these funds are available but also to make sure they’re going to states with the greatest needs—states like West Virginia. I am glad to see this critical funding come to our state and will continue to advocate for these much-needed resources.”