While your Dec. 16 editorial “Baker’s puzzling retreat on opioids’’ correctly portrayed the toll the opioid epidemic is taking on every community in the Commonwealth and acknowledged Governor Baker’s leadership in addressing the statewide public health crises we face, it missed the mark regarding the state’s funding commitments.

Since taking office, the governor convened an expert working group to develop an action agenda; championed and signed five major pieces of legislation, including three appropriations bills; has directed his administration to swiftly implement increased access to a full array of treatment and recovery services; and received federal approval to expand Medicaid addiction services.

Spending on substance abuse services increased by $18 million this year, not including Medicaid. Since January 2016, the administration has licensed 450 more treatment beds, certified more than 1,700 sober beds, rolled out a prescription-monitoring program, ended the practice of sending women to MCI-Framingham for treatment, expanded outpatient treatment, launched a prescription drop-off program, and doubled the number of Learn to Cope family support groups.

The $1.9 million reduction cited by the editorial was composed entirely of new, localized legislative earmarks, many of which were vetoed and overridden during the summer. The administration never released these funds, because of declining revenue projections and the requirement that the Commonwealth balance its budget.

The opioid epidemic our state is facing had been building for many years before it escalated dramatically in 2014. The Baker-Polito administration is fully committed to investing in the resources necessary to fight this crisis.

Marylou Sudders,

Secretary, Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Boston