NEWS RELEASE
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Cecile Young
Acting Executive Commissioner
Date: Oct. 9, 2018
Contact: Kelli
Weldon, 512-424-6951
Texas HHSC Receives $46M Grant to Fight Opioid Use
Disorders
AUSTIN — The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has new resources
to fight opioid use disorders in Texas. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration recently awarded HHSC $46.2 million to support a comprehensive response to
opioid misuse in Texas. The grant will be funded annually for the next two
years. Funds will be used to expand access to treatment and recovery support
services and provide increased access to medication-assisted treatment.
HHSC will
use the State Opioid Response grant funding in conjunction with Texas Targeted
Opioid Response funds, which total $27.4 million annually and will end April
2019.
“The complexity of the opioid crisis
requires a multifaceted approach, and it is essential that Texas continue to develop and improve
prevention and treatment measures to address the issue. This award helps with
that effort,” said Sonja Gaines, HHSC Deputy Executive Commissioner for
Intellectual or Developmental Disability and Behavioral Health Services.
Under the
grant, services will begin by Dec. 31, 2018. Activities include:
- Development
of opioid misuse prevention, medically assisted treatment and recovery support
services to address the opioid misuse and the overdose crisis.
- Implementation
of models for full spectrum treatment and recovery support services; community
peer support, peer coaching, and recovery housing; and prevention and education
services.
The grant
requires that evidence-based treatments, practices, and interventions for opioid
use disorder be used. In addition, support services will be offered.
For more information on accessing behavioral health services
in Texas, please visit https://MentalHealthTX.org.
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