There’s new federal funding to help Rhode Island fight the opioid addiction and overdose epidemic. The money is going toward better data collection, first responders and an overdose hotline.

It’s just under a million in federal dollars. But the Rhode Island Department of Health plans to split the funds over several projects. One chunk will help connect electronic medical records to the state’s online prescription monitoring database. The idea is to streamline the process for health care providers checking a patient’s medication use.

Another pot of money will expand the reach of the department’s overdose hotline – 942-STOP.

And the rest will help pilot a program at the West Warwick police department: embedding a behavioral health professional right on the force.

The state’s behavioral health agency has also received funding to expand access to medication assisted treatment for opioid addiction.