HHS Awards $1.5 Billion Grant to Combat Opioid Addiction

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is announcing a State Opioid Response (SOR) grant funding opportunity that will provide nearly $1.5 billion to states and territories to help address the nation’s opioid addiction and overdose epidemic. The SOR grant program provides formula funding to states and territories for increasing access to U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and for supporting prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support services for OUD and other concurrent substance use disorders. It also supports care for stimulant misuse and use disorders, including for cocaine and methamphetamine. According to HHS, the program helps reduce overdose deaths and close the gap in treatment needs across America by giving states and territories flexibility in funding evidence-based practices and supports across different settings to meet local community needs.

“The State Opioid Response grant program delivers crucial aid to states and territories to help address in the crisis of overdose and death in our nation’s communities,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “And, in line with HHS’ Overdose Prevention Strategy, this funding helps facilitate state- and territory-level efforts to ensure the full continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and long-term recovery supports are in place and accessible to all who need them.”

Overdose deaths have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that more than 105,000 people died from overdose in the 12 months ending in October 2021, the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period. In addition to implementing service delivery models that enable the full spectrum of treatment and recovery support services, as well as prevention, education and harm reduction services, states and territories will be asked to develop naloxone distribution and saturation plans that will increase availability and accessibility of this lifesaving overdose-reversal medication.

The SOR grant will fund up to $1,439,500,000 to be awarded in fiscal year 2022 to 59 states and territories. This funding includes a set-aside for the states with the highest OUD-related mortality rates.