AUSTIN, Texas – Texas has been awarded $27.4 million in federal funds to combat opioid-use disorders, officials announced Friday.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced the news about the grant, provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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The money will help the state’s efforts aimed at preventing and treating prescription and illicit opioid dependence, according to a news release.
Opioid use is a problem nationwide. Of the more than 33,000 opioid-related deaths in the United States in 2015, 1,186 took place in Texas, officials said.
The $27.4 million in grant money will be used for prevention, training, outreach, treatment and recovery support services.
It’s estimated that about 14,000 people will receive help in the next two years.
State officials hope to expand the capacity and access to treatment sites across Texas and eliminate the current waitlist for services, and increase training and technical assistance to providers and prescribers to ensure the use of best practices for preventing and treating opioid addiction, among other efforts.
The following groups are especially at-risk for opioid-use disorders: those in major metro areas, women who are pregnant and postpartum and people with a history of prescription opioid misuse.
