Funding secured in multistate opioid settlements by then-Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, now Governor Shapiro, continues to help Pennsylvania prevent substance use disorder.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced the availability of $2 million in funding to implement community-based prevention services throughout Pennsylvania to prevent opioid use disorder (OUD). Funding for these grants is provided from the Mallinckrodt Opioid Settlement, which was the result of a multistate investigation spearheaded by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro that led to billions in settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.
“Prevention really is our first line of defense in ensuring substance use disorder doesn’t develop,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “The Shapiro Administration is committed to providing critical prevention supports and resources throughout Pennsylvania’s cities, neighborhoods, towns, and communities as a whole. With this $2 million investment, DDAP will award approximately 10 grants of up to $200,000 each to eligible community-based organizations.”
Applicants are required to propose activities that focus on the primary prevention of OUD. Primary prevention refers to programs or activities that prevent the initiation of substance use/misuse or prevent use beyond initial experimentation. In addition, all proposed activities must take place in community settings or post-secondary education settings including colleges or universities.
Examples of allowable prevention activities include:
- Community anti-drug coalitions that engage in drug use prevention efforts;
- Supporting community coalitions in implementing evidence-informed prevention, such as reduced social access and physical access, stigma reduction – including staffing, educational campaigns, support for individuals in treatment or recovery, or training of coalitions in evidence-informed implementation, including the Strategic Prevention Framework developed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA);
- Engaging non-profits and faith-based communities as organizations to support prevention;
- Evidence-based or evidence-informed community education programs and campaigns for youth, families, and others;
- Youth-focused programs or strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing drug misuse and seem likely to be effective in preventing the uptake and use of opioids;
- Community-based education or intervention services for families, youth, and adolescents at risk for OUD and any co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health conditions; and
- Evidence-informed programs or curricula to address mental health needs of young people who may be at risk of misusing opioids or other drugs, including emotional modulation and resilience skills.
DDAP is placing a focus on health equity as a part of this grant opportunity. Based on a variety of criteria from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s 2022 overdose death data, DDAP will select three grantees located in Philadelphia, three grantees located in Allegheny County and four grantees from the remaining 19 qualifying counties located within Pennsylvania with a crude death rate higher than the state average.
All applications must be submitted electronically by 12:00 PM on Friday, December 13, 2024. Applications will be competitively reviewed and scored based upon the applicant’s adherence to the funding announcement guidelines, and a timely submission to DDAP.
Questions regarding the grants and the application process should be forwarded to RA-DAGrantsMgmt@pa.gov.