SAMHSA now accepting applications for next round of State Opioid Response funding
Author

Blaire Bryant
Upcoming Events
Related News

Key Takeaways
On May 19, the White House announced the next round of State Opioid Response (SOR) grant funding opportunities through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This two-year funding opportunity provides nearly $1.5 billion in formula funds to states, territories and jurisdictions for prevention, treatment and recovery support services for opioid use disorders (OUD), and other concurrent substance use disorders (SUD).
The SOR grant program has awarded nearly $5.2 billion to local jurisdictions since it was first authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255) in 2016. The program was reauthorized in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations bill, and again in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-103). States can apply by July 18, 2022 for funding to support projects up to two years in duration. The funding will be issued before September 30, 2022, and includes set-aside amounts for states with the highest OUD-related mortality rates.
Overdose deaths accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that more than 105,000 people died from an overdose in the 12 months ending in October 2021, the highest number ever recorded in a 12-month period. As key administrators of behavioral health services, counties will continue to play an integral role in addressing the nation’s opioid crisis, working in partnership with states to use these and other federal funding sources to develop evidence-based programs that reduce overdose deaths, close the gap in treatment needs, and increase access to lifesaving medications and services in the communities where people need them most.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Resource
Behavioral Health Matters to Counties

Related News

County Countdown – June 30, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features the Senate reconciliation debate, transparency on sanctuary designations and more.

NACo submits recommendations on the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy
On June 20, NACo submitted formal comments to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to help shape the development of its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. This strategy serves as the nation’s blueprint for reducing illicit drug use, and the ONDCP plays a central role in coordinating federal drug policy across government agencies.

U.S. House of Representatives introduces legislation to expand Medicaid coverage for behavioral health treatment facilities
On June 20, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act in the U.S. House of Representative. This bill aims to improve access to behavioral health care nationwide by removing long-standing Medicaid funding restrictions for behavioral health treatment in certain facilities, providing new flexibility for states and counties to meet growing behavioral health needs.