Resources: Harm Reduction

Reports on the implementation, activities, and outcomes of state opioid response (SOR) grantees using data collected in fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Includes accomplishments for all the states and territories and rural mentions throughout.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the South Central region of the U.S. Develops training and offers technical assistance to address opioid and stimulant use in rural communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Provides information to first responder agencies, communities, and other stakeholders to support practices and approaches for first responders to connect people to substance use treatment and other support services. Offers evidence-based strategies, public health approaches, resources, and program models, including best practices for responding to opioid overdoses. Considers potential challenges, such as those faced in rural areas, and other factors when implementing initiatives to support people who use drugs.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. Develops culturally and linguistically appropriate, evidence-based training and best practices on harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Offers technical assistance to address substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health to strengthen rural communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Collaborates with tribal stakeholders across the U.S. to address issues related to the treatment of chronic pain and the use of heroin and prescription opioids among tribal populations. Works to promote appropriate and effective pain management, reduce opioid overdose deaths, and improve access to culturally appropriate substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Workgroup focus areas include prescriber support, treatment and recovery, harm reduction, program effectiveness metrics, technical assistance, and communications.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the Mountain Plains region of the U.S. Offers training and technical assistance to help address opioid and stimulant use, substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, and other behavioral health issues. Supports rural communities in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) providing training and technical assistance to address opioids, stimulants, and other substances impacting rural communities in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the Northwest region of the U.S. Provides support, technical assistance, and training to address opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulant use throughout rural areas in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Opioid Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) program. Focuses on reducing opioid overdoses and deaths among veterans through education and training for prevention, recognition, rescue response, and naloxone kit use. Includes OEND videos and materials for providers and patients.

Offers comprehensive information and resources on the use of prescription opioids, managing chronic pain, and opioid use disorder (OUD) for patients and providers, specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and Indian Health Service (IHS) providers. Includes online tools, technical assistance resources, guides, and training for patients and providers on topics such as opioid crisis data, opioid prevention, proper pain management, opioid prescribing/stewardship, culturally appropriate practices, maternal health, harm reduction, naloxone use, drug checking, child health and wellness, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), tele-MAT, trauma-informed care, best practices, supportive services, wellness courts, and training opportunities. Resource is an initiative of the IHS Alcohol and Substance Abuse Branch (ASAB).

Provides guidance and resources to help communities, healthcare providers, and volunteers providing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and harm reduction and recovery services address opioid use in their communities. Includes rural mentions throughout.

Details the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services strategy to respond to drug overdoses and prevent overdose deaths across the U.S. Shares research, resources, and evidence-informed overdose interventions focused on 4 priority areas: primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support. Offers strategies and resources designed to increase coordination among key stakeholders, reduce stigma, and expand access to healthcare and treatment for underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Shares information, resources, and tools organized around 7 strategies to help local and state health departments link people at risk of opioid overdose to care. Includes rural examples and discussion throughout.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the Pacific Southwest region of the U.S. Shares training opportunities, shares information, and offers technical assistance to help rural communities address opioid and stimulant use throughout Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific jurisdictions.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) offering training and technical assistance to address substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health, including prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. Supports rural communities in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Provides an overview of the opioid crisis in rural America and includes information and resources on initiatives and funding opportunities to address the crisis. Covers successful rural model program examples, events, and other tools for prevention, harm reduction, and treatment.

Directory of behavioral health treatment locator tools, hotlines for suicide prevention, treatment referral services, assistance for veterans in crisis, and more. Includes links to resources and services related to substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery; mental illness; medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD); harm reduction; opioid overdose; crisis care; and suicide prevention.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the Southeast region of the U.S. Develops training and provides technical assistance to address opioid and stimulant use in rural communities. Supports rural communities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Provides information and resources for local health departments and community organizations implementing or expanding overdose prevention and response strategies at the local level. Offers guidance in developing practical measurement strategies to monitor progress, demonstrate accountability, and assess the outcomes and impact of grant-funded overdose initiatives. Includes examples from programs implemented in rural counties.

Shares education materials developed by the VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services (PBM) Academic Detailing Services (ADS) sharing evidence-based treatments to help providers improve the health of veterans. Offers provider and patient education tools and outreach resources to encourage evidence-based decision making for a variety of medical conditions and diseases, including opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD), pain, harm reduction, suicide, dementia, depression, HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.