The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded $3.95 million to five Illinois programs to expand substance use treatment and prevention in rural communities.

The awards are aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality of rural Americans from substance use disorders. Funded activities include providing medications for opioid use disorder. The grants were part of HRSA awards totaling more than $104 for substance use programs in rural communities nationwide.

Illinois programs received the following awards:

Medication Assisted Treatment Access Program: just under $1 million to establish new MAT access points to provide both medications and supportive services in rural communities. Recipients:

• Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield – $949,454

Opioid Response Program Implementation: $2 million to strengthen and expand substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas. Recipients:

• Arukah Institute of Healing Inc., Princeton – $1 million
• Chestnut Health Systems Inc., Bloomington – $1 million

Behavioral Health Care Support Program: $1 million to improve the quality and sustainability of behavioral health care services in rural communities, including evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment for substance use disorder. Recipients:

• Centerstone of Illinois Inc., West Frankfort – $500,000
• Comwell, Red Bud – $500,000