Be Well Texas at UT Health San Antonio to lead major statewide expansion of opioid use disorder and recovery services

Treatment access, improvements will reach both rural and urban communities

2025-07-16

(Press-News.org) SAN ANTONIO, July 16, 2025 – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has selected Be Well Texas, an initiative of the Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), to lead a major expansion of opioid use disorder and recovery support services across Texas.

Be Well Texas has been awarded funding to administer two key components of the state’s opioid response under a Needs Capacity Assessment initiative: medications for opioid use disorder treatment services and recovery support services.

This initiative is part of the broader Texas Targeted Opioid Response and Peer Support and Recovery Services strategy, aimed at reducing overdose deaths and building a lasting recovery infrastructure. The funding enables Be Well Texas and its partners across the state to expand treatment access, improve continuity of care and reach both rural and urban communities with life-saving services.

“We are honored by the trust placed in us by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and grateful for their leadership in addressing the challenge of substance use across the state,” said Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, MPH, founding director of the Be Well Institute and senior vice president for research at UT Health San Antonio. “This work would not be possible without the partnerships we’ve built with community leaders, providers and recovery organizations throughout Texas. Together, we are committed to expanding compassionate, evidence-based care for those affected by substance us.”

This award represents a unique collaboration between two state entities – HHSC and UT Health San Antonio – united by a shared vision: increasing access to high-quality, evidence-based and person-centered substance use services. As the lead agency, Be Well Texas will provide technical expertise, oversight and implementation support through a comprehensive network of treatment, recovery and provider engagement programs backed by the Be Well Institute’s deep clinical and public health experience.

“This is not just an expansion – it’s a continuation and amplification of the work Be Well Texas and its partners have been doing for years to scale effective, innovative models across Texas,” Potter said. “It reflects a growing momentum to ensure every Texan has access to care that works – wherever they are.”

Since 2021, the Be Well Texas initiative has served as a trusted partner in the state’s overdose prevention efforts, providing low-barrier clinical care, a robust statewide Provider Network, workforce training and substance use solutions at scale. The new funding will allow for even greater reach and integration of these services into Texas communities most in need.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) is one of the country’s leading health science and research universities. With missions of teaching, research and patient care, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health have graduated more than 45,000 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit UTHealthSA.org.

Stay connected with UT Health San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

The Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders at UT Health San Antonio is a statewide leader in advancing research, clinical care and education to address substance use and its impact on individuals, families and communities. The institute encompasses a range of initiatives, including the Be Well Clinic (offering in-person and telehealth services), Naloxone Texas (offering free statewide distribution of opioid overdose medication), the Center for Substance Use Training and Telementoring and a robust research arm dedicated to developing and scaling evidence-based solutions.

Be Well Texas, a flagship initiative of the Institute, provides compassionate, low-barrier access to treatment and recovery support through clinical care, a statewide provider network, workforce development and recovery infrastructure. Together, the institute’s programs expand access, reduce stigma and improve outcomes for Texans affected by substance use and related disorders.

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