Preventing Drug Overdoses: Community Prevention and Response

The Preventing Drug Overdoses: Community Prevention and Response grant is a forecasted federal funding opportunity anticipated to be released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative aims to tackle the persistent issue of drug overdose deaths in communities across the United States by supporting the implementation and expansion of prevention strategies, particularly those involving FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medications such as naloxone. SAMHSA’s mission broadly encompasses reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities, and this grant reflects that commitment. With the ongoing opioid crisis continuing to affect a wide demographic of communities, this program seeks to equip eligible organizations with the resources needed to prevent fatal overdoses. The central objective is to enable community-based entities to build, strengthen, or expand programs that increase access to lifesaving interventions at the community level. This may involve public education campaigns, distribution of overdose reversal medications, training programs for first responders and community members, and the development of partnerships that enhance outreach and service delivery. The program anticipates providing approximately 13 awards totaling around $11,050,000 in funding. While no award ceiling or floor has been explicitly stated in the forecast notice, the significant total program funding suggests awards of meaningful size intended to support comprehensive, regional prevention efforts. The grant does not require cost sharing or matching, lowering the financial barrier for organizations seeking support. Additionally, eligible applicants include both public and private nonprofit domestic entities, notably including faith-based organizations, making the grant broadly accessible to a range of mission-driven institutions across the country. The notice is still in the forecast stage, with an estimated posting date of May 15, 2026. Since the actual application instructions have yet to be released, detailed submission mechanics and evaluation criteria are not currently available. However, the program is cataloged under Assistance Listing Number 93.490, part of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance, suggesting a focus on interventions with scalable or replicable impact. No pre-application steps or gating requirements such as letters of intent are mentioned at this stage. Applicants will need to monitor Grants.gov and SAMHSA’s funding page for the official notice and application package, once released. The timeline for the award and project start dates remains unspecified, but it is expected that the performance period will commence shortly after awards are announced, potentially in late 2026 or early 2027. Prospective applicants or interested parties may contact Shannon Hastings at 202-961-8620 or via email at [email protected] for further clarification or to express interest. This early engagement period provides an opportunity for organizations to begin planning, forming partnerships, and aligning their programming with the anticipated objectives of the grant, improving their readiness once the opportunity is officially posted.