Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council voted to award Bexar County Hospital District dba University Health a grant of up to $25 million to distribute medication to reverse opioid overdoses throughout the state.
The grant follows up on the OAFC’s vote in November 2023 to award up to $75 million in three grant opportunities: up to $25 million to distribute medication to reverse opioid overdoses; up to $25 million to implement an opioid prevention education and awareness curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12 and their caregivers; and up to $25 million for enhancements to bolster the state’s peer-to-peer behavioral health workforce.
The Texas Legislature formed the OAFC in 2021 to ensure money recovered through the joint efforts of the state and its political subdivisions from statewide opioid settlement agreements is allocated fairly and spent to remediate the opioid crisis using efficient, cost-effective methods. The OAFC is made up of 13 appointed experts and Hegar as the non-voting presiding officer.