Bloomberg Philanthropies will invest $50 million to fight the nationwide opioid epidemic in up to 10 states over the next three years.
Here are five things to know:
1. As part of the initiative to combat the opioid crisis, Bloomberg Philanthropies will partner with Vital Strategies, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Baltimore-based John Hopkins University and the CDC Foundation.
2. The charity will select up to 10 states that were hit hard by the opioid crisis to help implement solutions to strengthen prevention and treatment efforts. The initiative will begin in Pennsylvania, which will receive $10 million to reduce opioid deaths.
3. The selected states will receive three years of funding and support, including embedding staff from partner organizations in government agencies to support interventions to reduce opioid-related deaths.
4. Bloomberg Philanthropies is the charity of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is 76 years old and has a net worth of about $50 billion.
5. "Today we are launching a groundbreaking new partnership with state and local leaders that aims to expand treatment for those who need it and save lives," Mr. Bloomberg said. "We hope our work in Pennsylvania—one of the hardest hit states in the nation—will lay the groundwork for more effective action across the country."