National Emergency Opioid Funding: New MAT Grants & More

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced an additional $144.1 million in grants to prevent and treat opioid addiction in support of President Trump’s commitment to combat the opioid crisis. The new grants for national emergency opioid funding will be administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), according to HHS.

The funding will help expand treatment and recovery services to pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance abuse, fuel first responders with the training and supplies they need to effectively use the overdose reversing drug naloxone and increase medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and long-term recovery sources.

While some funds were already authorized under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), received an increase in funding for opioids in the fiscal year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations bill.

On our nationwide listening tour, we have heard how critical federal resources can empower [local communities] efforts to meet the challenges of substance abuse and addiction, especially with the opioid crisis,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D. in the announcement.

The following funding will be distributed to 58 recipients, including states, cities, healthcare providers and community organizations.

• First Responders – CARA – $44.7 million. The purpose of these awards is to provide training and medication for emergency treatment of opioid overdose.
• State Pilot Grant for Treatment of Pregnant and Postpartum Women – CARA – $9.8 million.The purpose of these awards is to support family-based services for pregnant and postpartum women with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder, including opioid use disorders.
• Building Communities of Recovery – CARA – $4.6 million. The purpose of these awards is to increase the availability of long-term recovery support for substance abuse and addiction.
• Improving Access to Overdose Treatment – CARA – $1 million. The purpose of these awards is to expand access to approved drugs or devices for emergency treatment of opioid overdose.
• Targeted Capacity Expansion:  MAT – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction – $35 million.The purpose of these awards is to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for persons with an opioid use disorder seeking treatment.
• Services Grant Program for Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women – $49 million. The purpose of these awards is to expand services for women and their children in residential substance abuse treatment facilities, among other services.