Urgent Action Needed — Protect Overdose Prevention and Injury Center Programs

Dear Recovery Advocates,

I’m reaching out with an urgent call to action that affects the heart of our community-based work. The CDC’s Injury Center, which houses critical programs including overdose prevention, is facing a devastating funding freeze. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has restricted the CDC from using any FY 2025 funds to support five essential programs:

These programs are not just line items in a budget—they are lifelines for communities across the country. Overdose prevention is embedded within the Injury Prevention framework, and this freeze threatens the progress we’ve made in saving lives and supporting recovery.

Why This Matters to Us

Community-based organizations rely on these programs to address the root causes of substance use, disorder trauma, and violence. Without them, they risk losing the infrastructure that supports prevention, intervention, and recovery efforts nationwide.

What You Can Do Right Now

Congress is in recess during August, and this is our moment to act. We need to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear:

✅ Schedule an in-district or virtual meeting with your members of Congress

✅ Use your networks to advocate for the Injury Center

✅ Share your story and the impact these overdose prevention programs have had in your community

The Keep America Safe Coalition has created a toolkit to make it easy for you to take action. It includes talking points, a sample email, phone script, and social media posts to help you amplify this message.

Together, we can protect the programs that protect our communities.

In solidarity,