In a joint effort to bolster the fight against the opioid crisis within Native communities in Arizona, Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego have secured a $500,000 grant for NATIVE HEALTH. This grant, awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Opioid Intervention Prevention Program, aims to underpin community-led prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives. "Families across Arizona have felt the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, and Tribal communities must have the resources to prevent overdoses and save lives," Kelly stated in an announcement, as per the Arizona Senator press release. He also reinforced his commitment against any blockades to necessary healthcare funding.

The announcement comes as a breath of relief after the Trump administration's abrupt funding halt that put critical health services at risk. Both Kelly and Gallego have been vociferous in their opposition to the funding freeze, which they describe as reckless. Gallego emphasized the importance of the investment, stating, "This investment will help Arizona’s Tribal communities combat the opioid epidemic and make sure people struggling with addiction have access to treatment." His comments, as detailed in the Arizona Senator's press release, come with a glance back at the recent precarious financial state of such community health initiatives.

COIPP's funding supports various facets of the opioid crisis response, especially within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The program's objectives include developing and multiplying community education around prevention, endorsing treatment and recovery activities for opioid misuse, and promoting the uptake of culturally sensitive interventions. Furthermore, it supports the expansion of medication-assisted treatment, peer support services, and substantially, the facilitation of harm reduction strategies.