The Overdose Prevention Initiative joins White House and advocates in celebrating passage of the MAT Act

Statement of Libby Jones, Program Director of the Overdose Prevention Initiative, Global Health Advocacy Incubator

January 24, 2023

The Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator joined the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), administration officials, and advocates from across the country to celebrate the passing of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The MAT Act removed the X-waiver requirement to prescribe buprenorphine, an effective medication for opioid use disorder. In doing so, the MAT Act delivered on a key component of President Biden’s strategy to end the overdose crisis, as outlined in his 2022 State of the Union, and realized a vision that thousands of advocates had campaigned for.

"The MAT Act is an example of smart legislation bolstered by successful advocacy," said Libby Jones, Project Director of the Overdose Prevention Initiative. “We’re thankful to be included in the White House's celebration and grateful for the tireless work from our fellow advocates and lawmakers such as Senators Hassan and Murkowski and Congressmen Tonko and Turner. Today, we are celebrating the thousands of Americans who will benefit from this legislation — the MAT Act will provide more treatment options for people with addiction and will save lives."

In April 2022, the White House and ONDCP released President Biden’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy, outlining the steps the Biden Administration will take to achieve universal access to addiction treatment by 2025. The MAT Act is an important first step to solving the overdose crisis. The Overdose Prevention Initiative will continue working with the Biden Administration and the 118th Congress to improve access to addiction treatment, remove federal barriers that curtail medications for opioid use disorder, such as methadone and buprenorphine, and support distribution of effective harm reduction supplies.

Established in 2021, the Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator advances policy solutions that save lives and end the U.S. overdose crisis. The Initiative is dedicated to reducing inequities and disparities in substance use disorder care and expanding access to harm reduction services and substance use disorder treatment.

The Overdose Prevention Initiative is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and is a partnership between the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and the Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.

For questions, please contact Ben Orton-Vipond at bvipond@advocacyincubator.org.