42 U.S.C. § 290ee–1 — First responder training

(a) Program authorized The Secretary gives grants to states, local governmental entities, and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, so first responders and other key community sector members can administer an approved drug or device for emergency treatment of known or suspected overdose. (b) Application (1) In general An entity seeking a grant must apply to the Secretary, meeting the criteria in (2), in whatever form and with whatever information the Secretary requires. (2) Criteria The application must: (A) describe the evidence-based methodology and outcome measurements it will use to evaluate the program, and explain how those measurements will validly measure its impact; (B) describe how the program could be broadly replicated if shown to be effective; (C) identify the government and community agencies it will coordinate with; and (D) describe how it will ensure law enforcement agencies coordinate with state substance abuse and mental health agencies to identify protocols and resources available to overdose victims and families, including treatment and recovery resources. (c) Use of funds A grantee must use its grant to: (1) make the overdose-reversal drug or device available for first responders and other key community sector members to carry and administer; (2) train and provide resources for those people on carrying and administering it; (3) establish processes, protocols, and mechanisms for referral to appropriate treatment, which may include an outreach coordinator or team connecting people who received overdose-reversal drugs to follow-up services; and (4) train those people on safety around fentanyl, carfentanil, and other dangerous licit and illicit drugs. (d) Technical assistance grants The Secretary must make a grant for technical assistance and training on using the overdose-reversal drug or device, referral mechanisms, and safety around fentanyl, carfentanil, and other dangerous drugs. (e) Geographic distribution The Secretary must ensure at least 20 percent of grant funds go to eligible entities located outside metropolitan statistical areas, taking into account rural communities' unique needs, including above-average opioid use disorder rates and shortages of prevention and treatment services. (f) Evaluation The Secretary must evaluate the grants to determine: (1) how many first responders and other key community sector members got the overdose-reversal drug or device; (2) how many overdoses they reversed using it; (3) how many service requests the grantee or subgrantee responded to for overdoses; (4) how much information overdose victims and families received about treatment services and admissions data; and (5) how many people were trained on fentanyl and carfentanil safety. (g) Other key community sectors This term includes substance use disorder treatment providers, EMS agencies, agencies and organizations working with prison and jail populations and offender reentry programs, health care providers, harm reduction groups, pharmacies, community health centers, tribal health facilities, and mental health providers. (h) Authorization of appropriations Congress authorized $57,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.