UT Tyler Awarded $247K for Opioid Recovery Initiative
TYLER, Texas (June 12, 2026) – The University of Texas at Tyler received a $241,779.73 grant from the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council to support a rural-focused initiative for opioid use disorder. Led by Dr. Tuan Le, UT Tyler School of Medicine associate professor, the Rural Opioid Access, Delivery and Support — or ROADS — to Recovery initiative utilizes an integrated care model to help individuals with opioid use disorder.
“This grant is a vital step forward in our mission to address some of East Texas’ most pressing health needs,” said Dr. Sue Cox, School of Medicine dean. “By integrating specialized medical care with essential support services, we are not just treating a condition; we are building a sustainable system of hope and recovery for our neighbors who have been most affected by the opioid crisis.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Smith County reported an opioid overdose death rate of 19.7 per 100,000 in 2022, exceeding the state average of 13.6. According to emergency department data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, several East Texas counties, including Gregg, Morris, Van Zandt and Wood, exceeded the state average in overdose-related visit rates.
“The statistics for Smith and Cherokee counties underscore a critical need for targeted, evidence based intervention in our rural communities,” said Dr. Emmanuel Elueze, associate dean for graduate medical education and professional development, designated institutional official and a member of the council. “This funding allows us to translate public health data into direct action as we work with our partners to increase survival and recovery rates across the region.”
The initiative aims to increase access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder by helping individuals navigate the healthcare system — connecting them with treatment providers, transportation, housing support and other critical services when they need it most.
“Recovery does not happen in a vacuum, which is why the ROADS to Recovery initiative focuses on barriers to care,” said Le. “By addressing non-medical drivers of health, like lack of transportation and housing, we can provide a clear path to treatment. We are grateful to the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council for recognizing that an integrated, community-engaged approach is the key to overcoming opioid use disorder in rural areas.”
With a mission to improve educational and healthcare outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.
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