A clear connection between decreased overdose deaths and the increased availability and use of naloxone (the opioid overdose reversal medication) can be made by many addiction experts, but funding for naloxone training and distribution programs for first responders has recently been put at risk.

Proposed budget cuts and overhaul plans made by the White House this Spring would have a negative impact on valuable, long-established programs managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Trump Administration Timeline of Proposed Budget Cuts

In April, the White House made public its proposed 2026 budget plan and cuts to government programs.¹ The proposed cuts total $163 billion and include $33.3 billion in cuts to HHS, which includes SAMHSA. This budget plan was preceded by the March announcement of a proposed overhaul and restructuring of SAMHSA into a new office, the Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA.²

SAMHSA is the agency within HHS that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and improve the lives of individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders, and their families.³ SAMHSA’s work involves funding addiction treatment, the 988 mental health crisis line, and naloxone (Narcan) training and distribution programs.

What Is the Naloxone Distribution Program FR-CARA?

SAMHSA funds the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act grants (FR-CARA). The purpose of FR-CARA is to support first responders and community group members by providing training, administration, and distribution resources for naloxone and other Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved overdose reversal medications or devices.⁴ FR-CARA grant recipients also provide safety education related to overdoses around fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and other drug trends.

A SAMHSA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) set funding for the FR-CARA (FY 2023) grant at $17,200,000, with 34 anticipated award distributions. Up to $6.3M per year was allocated in awards to applicants serving rural communities with high rates of opioid use disorder.⁵

Programs that help train first responders and provide Narcan support to communities are critical; first responders are usually the first to arrive at the scene of an opioid overdose. They are able to immediately reverse an opioid overdose and save a person’s life when they have been trained to identify an overdose and are equipped with naloxone. In 2023, the FR-CARA grant dispensed 101,000 kits to first responders and trained 77,000 first responders in their use.⁶

How Naloxone Reduces Opioid Overdoses

Naloxone is a medication approved by the FDA that quickly counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available as a nasal spray, under the brand names Narcan and Kloxxado, or as an injectable solution.

If a person is overdosing on an opioid, their breathing can be restored to normal after administration of naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means that it attaches to opioid receptors in the brain and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioid agonist drugs in the body.⁷

A Promising Drop in Overdose Deaths in 2024

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was a 24% decrease in opioid overdose deaths in the 12 months ending in September 2024, compared to the same 12-month period of 2023.⁸ Increased access to naloxone and programs that supply first responders with the medication have been attributed as reasons for the decrease.

How Else Can You Get Low-Cost or Free Narcan?

Having Narcan (and knowing how to use it) can be critical if someone around you is overdosing. Depending on the state you live in, you may be able to get naloxone from your pharmacy without a prescription from your doctor.

You may also be able to get naloxone free of charge from libraries, local health departments, community-based distribution programs, local public health groups, and schools and universities.⁷

Veterans can ask their VA healthcare provider about receiving naloxone free of charge.⁹ Many state health departments, like Georgia and California, issue free naloxone kits if you request them.^10,11

Getting Help For an Opioid Addiction

Naloxone can be life-saving if you experience an opioid overdose, and following up with a comprehensive rehab program can change your life. If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid misuse or addiction, reach out today and take the first step toward treatment.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) operates treatment centers throughout the United States. Call to speak with an AAC admissions navigator, who can answer your questions about rehab, explain the rehab admissions process, and verify your insurance coverage.

American Addiction Centers Blog

Trump Administration Proposes Defunding Federal Narcan Distribution Program