Grants for Drug Rehabilitation

Federal and state grants provide funding for substance abuse treatment, addiction rehabilitation programs, recovery support services, and counseling. Whether you're seeking personal treatment assistance or funding to operate a treatment facility, grants help expand access to recovery resources.

Types of Substance Abuse Treatment Grants

Treatment Program Grants

Funding for organizations to operate substance abuse treatment programs, expand capacity, improve services, and increase access to evidence-based treatment.

• Outpatient treatment program operations
• Inpatient residential rehabilitation
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs
• Community-based recovery services

Recovery Support Services

Grants supporting peer recovery services, support groups, transitional housing, employment assistance, and long-term recovery support.

• Peer recovery coaching and support
• 12-step and mutual support groups
• Transitional and supportive housing
• Employment and job training programs

Prevention & Intervention

Grants for substance abuse prevention programs in schools and communities, early intervention, and opioid overdose prevention initiatives.

• Drug prevention education programs
• Overdose prevention and naloxone distribution
• Youth and adolescent prevention
• Harm reduction initiatives

Workforce Development

Funding to train addiction counselors, treatment providers, peer specialists, and expand the substance abuse treatment workforce.

• Addiction counselor training and certification
• Peer specialist credentialing programs
• Clinical staff capacity building
• Treatment provider training and technical assistance

Who Can Apply?

For Treatment Providers:

Substance abuse treatment organizations, nonprofits, public health departments, community health centers, and government agencies operating treatment programs qualify for most federal grants. State and regional requirements vary; some prioritize underserved areas or specialized treatment types (opioid, adolescent, co-occurring disorders).

For Individuals:

Many treatment programs offer scholarships and sliding-scale fees covered by program grants. Some federal grants specifically fund treatment access for uninsured and low-income individuals. Eligibility typically depends on financial need and medical necessity, not grant funding directly to individuals.

For Researchers & Evaluators:

NIDA, NIAAA, and SAMHSA fund research on treatment effectiveness, intervention development, and program evaluation. Researchers must have institutional affiliation (university, research organization) and NIH training requirements.

For Community Organizations:

501(c)(3) nonprofits, community coalitions, faith-based organizations, and recovery advocacy groups can apply for prevention, education, peer support, and community-based intervention grants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get grant funding directly for my drug treatment?

Most grants fund treatment organizations rather than individuals directly. However, if you seek treatment at a facility receiving grant funding, that grant helps cover your care costs. Additionally, many treatment programs offer scholarships, sliding-scale fees, and other financial assistance. Your treatment facility can connect you with payment assistance programs and grant-funded treatment slots. Contact SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) to find publicly-funded treatment in your area.

What's the difference between opioid treatment and general substance abuse grants?

Opioid-specific grants (often called "opioid response" or "harm reduction" grants) fund treatment, overdose prevention, medication-assisted treatment, and naloxone distribution addressing the opioid crisis. General substance abuse grants cover alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs. Most treatment facilities accept grants for multiple substance types. Check specific grant descriptions to see if they're drug-specific or comprehensive.

How do treatment providers use grant funding?

Treatment organizations use grants to: expand capacity (more treatment beds/staff), purchase equipment and materials, provide sliding-scale or free treatment, hire specialists, implement evidence-based therapies, fund recovery support services, train staff, and evaluate program effectiveness. Grants often require matching funding and public health impact documentation. The result is more available, affordable, higher-quality treatment for uninsured and low-income patients.

What are medication-assisted treatment (MAT) grants?

MAT grants fund programs providing medications (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) combined with counseling and psychosocial support for opioid addiction. These grants may support facility expansion, medication purchase, staff training, and access to underserved populations. MAT has strong evidence for reducing overdose deaths and relapse. Many federal and state grants specifically prioritize MAT expansion for opioid use disorder.

How long is the grant funding cycle for treatment programs?

Most federal grants provide 1-5 years of funding, commonly 3 years. After expiration, programs must reapply for continuation funding. Some programs provide planning grants (developing proposals) and then implementation grants (delivering services). Treatment facilities often combine multiple grants (federal, state, foundation) to maintain operations. Successful programs with strong outcomes tend to be refunded, making grant funding relatively stable once established.

What is SAMHSA and how do I use their grant resources?

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) is the federal agency funding most substance abuse treatment grants. SAMHSA provides: grant funding to treatment programs, treatment locator tool (findtreatment.gov) to locate grant-funded services, National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) for referrals, and grant writing resources. SAMHSA.gov lists current funding opportunities. If seeking treatment, use their locator to find publicly-funded providers near you.

Finding Drug Treatment Resources

SAMHSA National Helpline

Free, confidential, 24/7 helpline: 1-800-662-4357. Provides treatment referrals, information, and support. Callers are connected with local public and private treatment resources, many funded by grants.

Treatment Locator Tools

SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov tool helps locate treatment programs by location and type. NIDA's treatment portal provides research-based information on treatment approaches. State health department websites list licensed treatment providers, many grant-funded.

Funding Sources

Federal: SAMHSA, NIDA, NIAAA, HHS. State: State substance abuse agencies. Local: Community health departments. Foundation: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Casey Foundation, others. Grants.gov maintains federal funding listings; state funding varies by location.