The Department of Health and Human Services announced the availability of $70 million in grants to help communities and healthcare providers prevent opioid overdose deaths and provide treatment for opioid use disorder.

A portion of the funding, $28 million, is earmarked for medication-assisted treatment.

The grants, recently authorized by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), aim to expand access to overdose reversal medications and train healthcare providers to refer patients to appropriate follow-up drug treatment. Funds from a third grant opportunity will provide for medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorders.

Administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the funds will be made available through the following three grants:

• Medication-Assisted Treatment and Prescription Drugs Opioid Addiction: Up to $28 million to five grantees to increase access of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Medication-assisted treatment combines behavioral therapy and FDA-approved medication.
• First Responders: Up to $41.7 million over four years available to approximately 30 grantees to train and provide resources for first responders and members of other key community sectors on carrying and administering an FDA-approved product for emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.
• Improving Access to Overdose Treatment: Up to $1 million over five years to one grantee to expand availability to overdose reversal medications in healthcare settings and to establish protocols to connect patients who have experienced a drug overdose with appropriate treatment.

Earlier this month, SAMHSA released two other CARA-related funding opportunities. These funding opportunities will be open through July 3:

• State Pilot Grant Program for Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women: Up to $3.3 million to support a range of family-based services for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder.
• Building Communities of Recovery: Up to $2.6 million to mobilize resources within and outside of the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery support from substance abuse and addiction.

Potential applicants are encouraged to review the funding opportunity announcements at SAMHSA’s 2017 grant announcements page. Applicants with questions about program issues should contact the program person listed in the funding announcement. The deadline to apply may differ depending on the funding announcement. Questions on grants management issues should be directed to Eileen Bermudez at 240-276-1412 or FOACSAP@samhsa.hhs.gov or FOACSAT@samhsa.hhs.gov.