HHS announces $77M in grants for substance use prevention, treatment

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has allocated $77 million in grants to bolster substance use prevention, treatment, and community mental health initiatives. These funds are dispersed through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grants aim to strengthen prevention efforts, treatment and recovery programs, community mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis services.

Christopher Carroll, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at SAMHSA, emphasized the importance of prevention, stating that it forms the foundation of a robust behavioral health system. Grant funding will help states, tribes, and communities combat substance use, build protective factors for individuals, and enhance treatment and recovery services. Additionally, the grants will bolster crisis services, ensuring timely support when needed.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., HHS Secretary, emphasized that every American should have the opportunity to live without addiction and the consequences of untreated mental illness. President Trump's Great American Recovery initiative is targeting these crises at their root, investing in prevention, expanding access to effective treatment, enhancing crisis response, and facilitating community interventions before crises escalate.

The ultimate goal is to save lives, restore families, and enable more Americans to achieve lasting recovery and improved health.

In mid-August, HHS awarded $96.7 million in grants and cooperative agreements for behavioral health services and initiatives. Earlier this summer, Kennedy introduced additional funding opportunities, totaling over $700 million, for services related to mental illness, addiction, and homelessness. This includes $96 million for the Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Supports (STREETS) initiative, which was announced in February.

The STREETS program focuses on targeted outreach, psychiatric care, medical stabilization, and crisis intervention for individuals facing homelessness and substance use disorders.