health · HHS-SAMHS-SAMHSA

Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids Program

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis · TI-26-018

Closed

Award Range

$0 – $500K

Total Program Funding

$6.0M

Expected Awards

Deadline

July 27, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

SAMHSA is funding hospitals and emergency departments to develop alternatives to prescribing opioids for pain — things like nerve blocks, ketamine protocols, nitrous oxide, trigger point injections, and non-pharmacological approaches (acupuncture, physical therapy in the ED). 12 awards up to $500K each ($6M total). The goal: patients leave the ED with pain managed WITHOUT an opioid prescription that could start an addiction.

Who Should Apply

Hospitals and emergency departments only (including freestanding EDs and rural emergency hospitals). Must be the actual clinical facility, not a consulting firm or university (unless the university operates the ED).

Who Should NOT Apply

Outpatient clinics, private practices, consulting firms, pharmaceutical companies, or any entity that is not a hospital/ED.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must be a hospital or emergency department (statutory)
•Must develop non-opioid pain management alternatives
•Must implement in the ED setting specifically
•Must reduce opioid prescribing for acute pain
•Must track outcomes (prescribing rates, patient satisfaction, return visits)

💡 GrantQuick Tip

12 awards for hospitals — and most large hospital systems don't bother with $500K grants (too small for their admin overhead). This leaves the field open for community hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, and safety-net facilities. The strongest applications will show current opioid prescribing rates in your ED and a specific protocol to reduce them (e.g., "we'll implement an ultrasound-guided nerve block program for fractures").

Competitiveness: Low-moderate — 12 awards for a grant that only hospitals can receive. Large systems often skip small grants, giving community hospitals better odds.

What This Grant Funds

The purpose of the program is to establish and implement practices which will help your organization develop alternatives to pharmacological opioid interventions, reduce the potential harmful consequences of opioid use for pain care in hospitals and emergency departments, thereby promoting safer pain treatment and reducing the risk of future opioid misuse and possible opioid overdose.

Who Can Apply

Eligibility is statutorily limited to hospitals and emergency departments, including free standing emergency departments and rural emergency hospitals.

Eligible Applicant Types

Other (see NOFO for details)

Funding Details

Maximum Award: $500K
Total Program Funding: $6.0M
Expected Number of Awards: 12
Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: July 1, 2026

Application Deadline: July 27, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Agency Contact

Office of Financial Resources Division of Grants Management 240-276-1400

NOFOBudget.CSAT@samhsa.hhs.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov