The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) released a white paper, Using Emergency Declarations to Address the Opioid Epidemic: Lessons Learned from States. States have used emergency powers to provide governors with new avenues to enhance capabilities, coordination and collaboration across state and local agencies to inform opioid response efforts. The following eight states have activated their emergency powers in response to the opioid epidemic: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
The white paper is a result of a roundtable discussion that was held last fall with states that had declared emergencies in the context of the opioid epidemic. The white paper describes lessons learned that emerged from the roundtable and considerations for states interested in pursuing this policy option.
Download the white paper here.
