MDHHS awards nearly $3.75 million to help prevent substance use among Michigan youth

New opioid settlement-funded grants support 12 organizations

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has awarded nearly $3.75 million to 12 organizations to support community-based programs that help prevent substance use among school-age children.

The funding will help the organizations implement prevention strategies for youth, including programs that expand access to positive extracurricular activities and strengthen youth knowledge, decision-making, coping skills and supportive connections. Prevention is a key part of the state's plan to address substance use disorder, along with harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.

"Young people are more resilient when they have access to trusted adults, safe spaces and meaningful opportunities to build skills and confidence," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "These investments will help communities strengthen protective factors and support healthier outcomes for kids and families."

Studies have shown that youth prevention programs help reduce the risk of substance-related harm by delaying first use and strengthening protective factors before patterns are established. Those who try an illegal drug before age 15 are 6.5 times more likely to develop a substance use disorder than those who wait until age 21 or later. Additionally, in 2024, more than one in five publicly funded treatment admissions were for individuals who initiated drug use before age 17.

"Prevention is about giving young people tools and options before they ever face a crisis," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. "Investing in programs like mentorship and skill-building can help to strengthen families and communities and reduce the risk of substance use."

Programs supported through these grants include:

• Family-strengthening supports and prevention education.
• Youth skill-building programs focused on decision-making and coping skills.
• Expanded access to structured out-of-school activities and evidence-based prevention programs.
• Other community-based prevention supports designed to delay the initiation of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

Grant recipients include

These programs are being funded through opioid settlement dollars. The state is slated to receive more than $1.8 billion from national opioid settlements by 2040, with half distributed to the State of Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund and the other half distributed directly to county, city and township governments.

For more information about substance use disorder resources and the state's opioid settlement investments, visit Michigan.gov/opioids.

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