STOWRS

STOWRS, or the State and Tribal Opioid Response (STOR) program, is a federal initiative in the United States designed to address the opioid crisis. It provides funding and technical assistance to states and tribal nations to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery. The program aims to reduce opioid overdose deaths, decrease the prevalence of opioid use disorder, and improve access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services.

Funding through STOWRS can be used for a variety of purposes, including the expansion of medication-assisted treatment, the distribution of naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses, the implementation of prevention programs in communities, and the development of peer recovery support services. The program encourages states and tribes to tailor their approaches to the specific needs and challenges within their jurisdictions. A key component of STOWRS is its emphasis on data collection and evaluation to monitor the effectiveness of implemented strategies and to inform future policy and program development.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) oversees the STOWRS program. It works in collaboration with other federal agencies to coordinate efforts and maximize the impact of opioid crisis response initiatives. By supporting state and tribal efforts, STOWRS seeks to build capacity and foster sustainable solutions to the ongoing opioid epidemic across the nation.