Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's charity has announced a USD 50 million donation to help fight the nation's opioid epidemic.
Bloomberg Philanthropies said over the next three years it will help up to 10 states address the causes of opioid addiction and strengthen prevention and treatment programs.
Its initiative involves a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Johns Hopkins University and Vital Strategies.
Bloomberg, who has been considering a 2020 Democratic presidential bid, was expected to discuss the funding on Friday during his keynote address at The Bloomberg American Health Summit in Washington.
A spokeswoman said there was "no stated link" between his political aspirations and the USD 50 million investment to fight opioids.
Bloomberg's charity said CDC data shows there were more than 70,000 US drug overdose deaths last year, including more than 47,000 from opioids, the highest numbers on record.
It said those numbers are a leading factor in the decline of US life expectancy over the past three years.
Bloomberg called the sobering numbers part of "a national crisis."
"We cannot sit by and allow this alarming trend to continue not when so many Americans are being killed in what should be the prime of their lives."
He said in a statement he hoped his charity's work in Pennsylvania, one of the states hardest hit by the opioids crisis, would lay the groundwork "for more effective action across the country."
"We are doing everything we can to help them, and I am confident that this partnership will mark a turning point in our efforts."
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