$144.1 Million in New Federal Grants Announced to Help Fight Opioid Crisis
Shutterstock
Connecting state and local government leaders
Funding will help expand treatment and recovery services to pregnant and postpartum women who are struggling with substance abuse.
The Trump administration on Friday announced that the Health and Human Services Department has awarded $144.1 in grant funding for opioid abuse prevention and treatment around the nation.
That grants are being administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“Those supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in our local communities are heroes in our nation’s battle against the opioid crisis,” Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said in a statement. “These grants will help expand treatment and recovery services to pregnant and postpartum women who are struggling with substance abuse, train our first responders to effectively use overdose reversing drugs, improve access to medication-assisted treatment, and increase long term recovery services.”
In 2016, an estimated 11.8 million people misused opioids in the previous year, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2016 suggests the number of drug overdose deaths, most of them due to opioids will likely top 60,000 people.
President Trump declared the opioid abuse crisis to be a national emergency in August.
According to Friday’s announcement:
SAMHSA is issuing the funding through the six grant programs listed below in the following amounts:
- First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act - $44.7 million. The purpose of this program is to provide training and medication for emergency treatment of opioid overdose. https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2017/SP-17-005
- State Pilot Grant for Treatment of Pregnant and Postpartum Women - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act - $9.8 million. The purpose of the program is to support family-based services for pregnant and postpartum women with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder, including opioid use disorders. https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2017/TI-17-016
- Building Communities of Recovery - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act - $4.6 million. The purpose of this program is to increase the availability of long-term recovery support for substance abuse and addiction.https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2017/TI-17-015
- Improving Access to Overdose Treatment - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act - $1 million. The purpose of this program is to expand access to FDA-approved drugs or devices for emergency treatment of opioid overdose.https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2017/SP-17-006
- Targeted Capacity Expansion: Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction - $35 million. The purpose of this program is to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for persons with an opioid use disorder seeking treatment. https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2017/TI-17-017
- Services Grant Program for Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women - $49 million. The purpose of this program is to expand services for women and their children in residential substance abuse treatment facilities, among other services. https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/awards/2017/TI-17-007
The funding will be distributed to 58 recipients, including states, cities, healthcare providers and community organizations. The funds will be awarded for three to five years, subject to availability and depending on the program.
“Opioid use disorders continue to plague our nation,” Elinore McCance-Katz, assistant secretary for mental health and substance use, said in a statement. “These funds will support and expand prevention, treatment and recovery services in America’s communities.”
NEXT STORY: Trump Administration Hosts Forum on State-Federal Relations