CALIFORNIA INVESTS $26 MILLION TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT NEEDS AND SAVE LIVES

SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has awarded $26 million to more than 70 organizations to combat the opioid crisis in California. These grants are designed to expand access to treatment, strengthen community partnerships, and save lives. The grants represent a critical part of the State's Opioid Response (SOR) initiative.

"Addressing the opioid crisis requires a comprehensive, compassionate, and community-driven approach. That's why DHCS is pleased to partner with so many organizations to offer access to this life-changing care," said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. “We must expand access to treatment, invest in prevention, and dismantle the stigma surrounding addiction. Lives are at stake, and we are committed to doing everything we can to support recovery."

REDUCING UNMET NEEDS AND OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSES IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: DHCS awarded $2.1 million to 12 organizations to implement the SOR IV Tribal Local Opioid Coalition (TLOC) program. TLOC supports Tribal and Urban Indian communities by increasing access to treatment, providing culturally rooted recovery services, and reducing overdose-related deaths through prevention and care. The program strengthens recovery efforts for opioid and stimulant use disorder by building partnerships among community members, stakeholders, and service providers.

“DHCS is pleased to support Tribal communities with resources that reflect their unique needs and strengths. The TLOC program empowers local partnerships to expand treatment, prevent substance use, and promote culturally grounded healing," said Baass.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT: DHCS also awarded nearly $3 million to four DHCS-licensed Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTP) to create satellite facilities, called medication units, that provide access to addiction treatment. These medication units will serve people who otherwise struggle to access care, including people in rural areas, justice-involved communities, and people without reliable transportation, and support care integration.

“Geographically isolated communities often face compounded challenges to accessing care, including transportation barriers and systemic inequities. Establishing medication units addresses these gaps by improving access, enhancing retention, and advancing health equity in the areas that need it most," said Sarah Khawaja-Laljiani, Senior Director of Grants and Patient Services of Pinnacle Treatment Center, a recipient of funding to expand access to Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT).

“This funding opportunity aligns with our commitment to expanding access to evidence-based treatment in underserved communities, said Evelyn Sosa, Senior Vice President of BayMark Health Services. “This support will help us meet patients where they are, removing barriers to care and improving outcomes for people most at risk of overdose."

EXPANDING ACCESS TO MAT: Additionally, DHCS awarded more than $21 million to 59 DHCS-licensed residential substance use disorder treatment programs to launch or expand the onsite evidence-based MAT services to individuals with an opioid use disorder.

“As the opioid and fentanyl crisis continues to devastate lives across the country, expanding access to MAT services in residential programs is not only a clinical necessity, but a moral imperative," said Dr. BJ Davis, Executive Director, Gateway House for Women and Sacramento Recovery House for Men. “This funding allows us to meet people where they are with the full continuum of evidence-based care."

“Our clients require timely access to MAT to manage cravings and begin their journey toward recovery and stability," said Lindsey Purdie, MBA, Executive Director of The Crossroads Foundation. “Through our partnership with DHCS, we have been given the opportunity to expand our services and better meet the needs of the people we support. We are deeply grateful for this funding and for the ongoing collaboration."
 
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: In 2023, there were 11,359 drug-related overdose deaths. Of those, 8,000 were opioid-related, with 7,000 related to specifically to fentanyl. While a significant portion of Californians meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, only a small percentage receive treatment, often due to limited access to services like MAT and naloxone in rural areas.

BIGGER PICTURE: These grants are part of DHCS' Opioid Response, a key element of Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis. For more information about opioids and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, visit Opioids.ca.gov, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources around prevention and treatment.​