WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill aimed at curbing the abuse of heroin and opioid drugs.
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 will create grants and other programs, and expand access to treatment to address the abuse, which has become a nationwide problem.
More than 47,000 U.S. drug abuse deaths were recorded in 2014, double the number in 2000. The government has estimated that more than 2 million people abuse opioids, which are potentially addictive pain medications.
Obama signed the bill Friday. The White House had previously expressed disappointment that lawmakers failed to provide what it considered sufficient money to deal with the problem.
The bill authorizes $181 million in new spending. Obama had asked Congress for more than $1 billion in new funding.
