The Shapiro Administration is committed to providing critical drug prevention resources in rural and underserved areas.
Funding secured in multistate opioid settlements by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro continues to help Pennsylvania expand the full spectrum of other substance use disorder services and supports.
Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced an investment of nearly $1.5 million in funding for seven Pennsylvania organizations to implement community-based prevention services throughout Pennsylvania to prevent opioid use disorder (OUD). The funding will allow for more evidence-based and youth-focused programs centered on preventing opioid misuse from an early age to be offered in more communities.
Funding for these grants is provided from the Mallinckrodt opioid settlement, which was the result of a multistate investigation of opioid manufacturers and distributors spearheaded by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro. It led to multiple settlement agreements worth billions of dollars to expand or enhance recovery support services for individuals in recovery from OUD and other substance use disorders (SUD), most of which goes directly to Pennsylvania counties to meet local needs.
“Prevention is critical to our overall public health strategy to manage the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “We need to educate both children and adults about the risks of opioids and potential consequences, and this funding will do just that. Stopping misuse before it starts is crucial to our efforts in reducing opioid overdoses—especially in rural and underserved areas of Pennsylvania.”
DDAP is awarding seven grants of up to $200,000 each to the following community-based organizations:
- Little Wings of Hope: Allegheny County
- Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation: Allegheny County
- Cambria County Drug Coalition, Inc.: Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties
- Willow Foundation: Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Schuylkill counties
- YWCA Tri-County Area: Chester and Montgomery counties
- Mother of Mercy: Philadelphia
- Unity Recovery: Philadelphia
“Creating a campaign centered around adverse childhood experiences—traumatic or stressful events that happen during childhood that can increase the risk of substance misuse as an adult—has been a goal of the Cambria County Drug Coalition for many years. This funding will help us to achieve that goal,” said Cambria County Drug Coalition Project Coordinator Nichole Rousell. “We are proud to receive this grant and are looking forward to impacting residents of not only Cambria County but Bedford and Somerset counties as well.”
The recipients are required to administer 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 activities must take place in community settings or post-secondary education settings including colleges or universities.
Prevention activities funded through these grants may include:
- Community anti-drug coalitions that engage in drug use prevention efforts;
- Supporting community coalitions in implementing evidence-informed prevention;
- 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.
Since day one, the Shapiro Administration has prioritized a focus on and investments in sustained recovery and expanding access to equitable prevention and treatment services by:
- Awarding more than $40 million to retain professionals working in Pennsylvania’s drug and alcohol field through DDAP’s student loan repayment program;
- Awarding nearly $20 million to expand drop-in center services for individuals with SUD across Pennsylvania;
- Awarding more than $6 million for 19 organizations to establish or expand SUD services, community outreach and education to underrepresented communities of color;
- Awarding more than $8 million to expand or enhance recovery support services for individuals in recovery;
- Awarding nearly $7 million to administer the operations of DDAP’s current Get Help Now hotline for a five-year period;
- Awarding $4 million for the establishment of regional recovery hubs to enhance resources for individuals in recovery and promote recovery within communities across Pennsylvania;
- Awarding more than $2 million for community-based organizations and public health programs to assist individuals in accessing DDAP-licensed recovery houses; and
- Awarding more than $1 million to expand or enhance community-based harm reduction services for individuals who use opioids and other drugs, particularly in underserved areas.
