Resources: Prevention

Reports on the implementation, activities, and outcomes of state opioid response (SOR) grantees using data collected in fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Includes accomplishments for all the states and territories and rural mentions throughout.

Outlines federal drug policy priorities and promotes short and long-term solutions to reduce drug use, overdose, supply, and other related harms in the U.S. Covers information and strategies to prevent youth substance use, expand access to medications for opioid use disorder and other evidence-based treatments, building recovery communities, and strengthening efforts to disrupt drug trafficking. Includes strategies to address substance use issues in rural, tribal, and other underserved communities.

Identifies and describes the following 7 drug policy priorities for the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration: expanding access to evidence-based treatment; advancing racial equity issues in drug policy; enhancing evidenced-based harm reduction efforts; supporting evidence-based prevention efforts to reduce youth substance use; reducing the supply of illicit substances; advancing recovery-ready workplaces and increasing the addiction workforce; and expanding access to recovery support services. Outlines next steps for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to coordinate with other federal agencies to address drug policy priorities.

Offers states information and advice regarding strategies to combat the opioid crisis using technology, as well as potential funding opportunities for these efforts. Discusses implementing prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to track and facilitate the safe prescription of opioid medications and increasing data-driven approaches, interoperability, and telehealth services to improve care coordination among healthcare professionals.

Describes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities to address the opioid epidemic related to prevention, treatment, and data. Highlights program successes, innovative approaches, and future goals of CMS efforts to address the opioid crisis.

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.

Offers a search tool to locate public disposal locations for controlled substances. Users can enter a ZIP code or city and state information, and select a search radius from 5 miles up to a maximum of 50 miles. The result page lists the names, addresses, and maps of the disposal sites for the search criteria.

Provides information to law enforcement, courts, child welfare agencies, and schools on how they can create cross-sector collaborations to reduce the harmful effects of substance use on children and families. Includes 8 strategies for cross-sector collaboration and provides examples of successful collaboration projects. Considers factors related to addressing substance use in rural communities.

Summarizes research examining how cultural-specific risk and protective factors can contribute to or mitigate substance misuse among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Aims to inform prevention planning by tribal communities and providers to include culturally responsive programs, practices, and policies that can reduce substance misuse and support the mental health and well-being of AI/AN individuals, youth, and families.

Provides a brief outline of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program and summarizes national DFC program implementation evaluation data from February to August 2022. Describes the reach of the DFC program, substances addressed, community protective and risk factors, and the types of communities served, including rural and frontier areas.

Provides guidance and resources to help individuals and communities build and strengthen community coalitions with the ultimate goal of decreasing opioid overdose deaths. Includes insights from rural communities and rural considerations.

Provides technical assistance to help establish and expand recovery housing services and evidence-based treatment and prevention programs in over 100 counties highly impacted by substance use disorder (SUD) in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.

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 opioid use disorder (OUD), mental health, stimulant use, and substance use disorder (SUD) to strengthen rural communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Infographic highlighting areas where resources and programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) have worked to address prevention, treatment, and recovery from opioid use, as well as programs to help build upstream resilience and future prosperity in rural communities.

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.

Operates 13 tribally and federally operated residential treatment facilities located across the U.S. to address substance use disorder (SUD) and/or co-occurring mental health disorders (COD) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth and their families at no cost. Provides a range of education and culture-based prevention initiatives, evidence-based and practice-based models of treatment, family strengthening and recreational activities designed to help AI/AN youth overcome challenges related to mental health and substance use. Promotes holistic, culturally responsive care that integrates clinical services with traditional healing, spiritual values, and cultural identification in a substance-free residential environment to support AI/AN youth in achieving their treatment goals and leading healthy, resilient lives.

Interview with Precia Stuby, Executive Director of the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services in Ohio. Discusses how embedding a recovery-oriented system of care (ROSC) model in local health agencies may be employed as a strategy to advance and sustain recovery communities during periods of change and disruption.

Serves as a Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-R) in the Midwest region of the U.S. Develops training, best practices, and provides technical assistance related to opioids, stimulants, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Supports rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Provides technical assistance to improve and support state systems and local programs implementing the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social-Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) to improve the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children with, and at risk for, developmental disabilities or delays. Works with early childhood programs to reduce the use of inappropriate discipline practices, promote family engagement, use data for decision-making, integrate early childhood and infant mental health consultation, and foster inclusion.

Delivers information, resources, technical assistance, and training to K-12 schools and institutions of higher learning to assess school climate, implement evidence-based programs to improve learning conditions, and measure outcomes in 3 core areas: providing a well-rounded education, improving the safety and health of students, and improving the effective use of technology. Offers multiple products, policy guides, toolkits, research, media, online events and training related to issues of substance and opioid abuse for students, families, schools, and communities.

Offers training and technical assistance to mentoring practitioners and programs seeking to implement and operate mentoring programs to achieve positive outcomes for justice-involved youth. Provides youth mentors with information, tools, program, and training materials to support the use of evidence-based practices and innovative models designed to increase the quality and effectiveness of various program types, including group, peer, school-based, or web-based mentoring. Promotes mentoring as an important approach to support youth safety and well-being, prevent or decrease their involvement with the justice system, and reduce crime.

Offers information on a week-long event dedicated to promoting public awareness of mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD), increasing community engagement, and highlighting promising and evidence-based prevention approaches. Includes a planning toolkit, webinars, and other resources to support community prevention efforts and help communities organize local events and activities in support of National Prevention Week. Helps communities connect and collaborate with federal agencies and national organizations to raise awareness about substance use prevention and promote positive mental health.

Assists schools and school districts with the implementation of a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework to improve students' social, emotional, and physical well-being, reducing disruptive behavior, and creating a positive learning environment. Uses a multi-tiered framework that reaches all students while allowing for more focused intervention and support for at-risk students and students with disabilities. Includes resources and blueprints for implementing school-wide responses to the opioid crisis and substance use. Offers direct onsite technical assistance to district and state leadership teams as well as indirect assistance through online resources, national and regional conferences, and collaborations with other technical assistance centers and organizations.

Shares a policy, effective September 23, 2019, whereby injured federal workers receiving workers' compensation that are newly prescribed opioids will be limited to an initial 7-day supply. Allows an injured worker to receive a maximum of 4 sequential 7-day supply prescriptions, an initial and 3 subsequent prescriptions, for a total of 28 days before prior authorization is required. For additional opioid prescriptions exceeding the initial 28-day period, the prescribing physician will need to submit a form certifying the medical necessity of continued opioid use for approval from the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP).

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.

Describes a 4-point strategic plan to protect injured federal workers covered under the Federal Employee's Compensation Act from the risk of opioid misuse and addiction. Includes details on these policy initiatives and their progress, information on any new policies, as well as a discussion of opioid facts and risk factors for opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose, and links to additional resources.

Provides free training, education, and technical assistance to increase access for communities to evidence-based practices for opioid use disorder (OUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Connects community members with local consultants and technology specialists who are qualified to implement evidence-based practices.

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, 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).

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.

Consists of a network of 10 regional resource centers, a central coordinating office, a National Hispanic and Latino PTTC, and a National American Indian and Alaska Native PTTC that work to support effective substance use prevention interventions. Develops and disseminates education, training, resources, and information to raise awareness and promote the implementation of evidence-based prevention practices. Facilitates the adoption of new technology by individuals and organizations working in the field of substance use prevention. PTTC focus areas include community coalitions and collaborators; health equity and inclusion; data-informed decisions; implementation science; cannabis prevention; and workforce development.

Offers healthcare professionals evidence-based training, education, and resources to treat patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Provides free medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) training for physicians, physician assistants (PA), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), medical students, and other healthcare professionals. Training is available in on-demand, online, or in-person formats.

Features a 6-part video series highlighting Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grantees and their work to prevent and treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in their communities.

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

Shares programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) to address specific community needs related to substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. Provides brief program summaries with information on program eligibility, as well as how the program may be used to confront issues of substance and opioid misuse in rural communities.

Evaluates the technical assistance (TA) provided to grantees in FORHP's Rural Communities Opioids Response Program (RCORP) from March 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. Provides reports, briefs, and data on various types of RCORP TA, such as site visits, learning collaboratives, peer-to-peer calls, office hours, and more. Offers feedback and lessons learned from RCORP grantees on strategies and approaches to help rural communities address opioid misuse and opioid use disorders (OUD).

Provides an overview of the challenges facing communities seeking to address opioid misuse and substance use disorders in rural areas. Offers information and guidance from a wide range of experts and stakeholders to help rural leaders develop effective prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies to mitigate the impacts of substance use on rural populations. Highlights promising practices, lessons learned, and key resources to support community-led efforts to prevent and reduce substance use and build healthy communities.

Video recording of a workshop discussion intended to help rural faith leaders understand substance use prevention and identify and implement evidence-based prevention strategies in rural communities. Provides information on substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery in a rural context. Highlights ways that faith communities can partner with other stakeholders to develop prevention programs and activities and offers several faith-based prevention program models.

Highlights evidence-based and promising models and related resources to develop, implement, evaluate, and build sustainable substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment programs in rural communities. Identifies barriers to SUD and treatment in rural areas.

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.

Provides a clearinghouse of information, best practices, tools, events, and research to support comprehensive approaches to prevention, treatment, recovery, and policy to address substance use disorder (SUD) in rural communities nationwide.

Provides information and resources to help states and local communities building media campaigns to increase awareness and educate the public on the dangers of prescription opioids by sharing the stories of people impacted by them. Offers videos, radio spots, social media posts, signage, and online ads that cover opioid treatment and recovery, overdose prevention, and real life stories of addiction and loss due to prescription opioids.

Offers information and resources to support and promote behavioral health equity by removing barriers and providing prevention and treatment services for mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Includes links to data, reports, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs and federal programs and initiatives for the following populations: Hispanic or Latino; Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI); American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN); Black or African Americans; and the LGBTQ+ populations.

Provides information on drug-free programs, drug testing, and other resources and training designed to address illegal substance use by federal employees and in federally regulated industries, such as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NCRC), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Discusses policies, guidelines, and regulations to address substance misuse in workplaces.

Provides communities, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and others with a searchable resource center including reports, guides, toolkits, and other resources to implement evidence-based practices for mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Focuses on opioid use disorder (OUD) and other SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery options.

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; medication-assisted treatment (MAT); treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD); harm reduction; opioid overdose; crisis care; and suicide prevention.

Assists with the provision of comprehensive and integrated substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and early intervention services for those with or at risk of developing SUD. Provides information on reimbursement coding for screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) services and related resources.

Presents the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) 4-year strategic plan detailing the agency's guiding principles, priorities, goals, and objectives to address behavioral health needs in the U.S. Focuses on 5 key areas: preventing substance use and overdose; access to suicide prevention and mental health services; promoting resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and families; integrating behavioral and physical healthcare; and strengthening behavioral health workforce. Emphasizes behavioral health equity for underserved and/or historically marginalized populations, including rural and tribal communities.

Provides an overview of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) efforts to increase the supply of trained, culturally aware behavioral health professionals, including psychiatrists, therapists, addiction counselors, homeless outreach specialists, recovery coaches, and other professionals in fields related to prevention, healthcare, and social services. Includes links to programs and resources to help address workforce shortages and provide culturally competent care to individuals with mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD).

Details a school-centered pilot project that examined implementing strategies to prevent youth substance use and risky sexual behaviors in high-risk rural communities in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Highlights efforts to address related issues of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), teen pregnancy, and high-risk substance use through education, primary prevention, and early detection screening. Program activities included implementing new health curricula, partnering with health departments and community drug-free coalitions, and developing and distributing informational products and video campaigns.

Serves as a planning resource for schools and stakeholders interested in implementing the Teens Linked to Care (TLC) program, an integrated prevention strategy to address both substance use and risky sexual behavior in youth living in rural communities. Outlines the 4 phases of the TLC program, and shares tools and other resources to help schools support sexual health and substance use education and policies.

Provides training and technical assistance to Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) tribal grantees and federally recognized tribes to improve juvenile justice systems, with the goal of reducing crime, recidivism, and victimization, and increasing positive outcomes for Native youth. Builds tribal capacity to develop and implement community-led, culturally based approaches to youth prevention and intervention, enhancement of tribal court systems, trauma-informed care, and other efforts to address issues affecting Native youth, such as poverty, addiction, suicide, violence, and gang activity.

Supports capacity building efforts for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) in rural counties of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire disproportionately affected by SUD. Utilizes innovative technology and telehealth strategies to identify real-time needs in communities, disseminate education and resources on evidence-based approaches, and provide ongoing training and technical assistance to providers in order to more effectively address the needs of individuals and special populations with SUD and related issues.

Provides instructions for the safe disposal of unwanted and unneeded medications to prevent substance misuse and accidental poisonings. Includes safety tips to keep drugs away from children and pets, ensure proper medication storage, and proper medication disposal. Takes back unused and expired medications and publishes bulletins and alerts with recent news related to medication safety.

Provides access to 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, suicide, dementia, depression, HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.

Offers evidence-based information, recommendations, guides, and tools for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) healthcare providers and patients to assist in the decision making process to improve the treatment and outcomes for patients with substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), methamphetamine use, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Describes best practices to help patients avoid preventable complications, reduce substance use, and improve their overall health and wellness.

Offers free and confidential support for veterans and others in crisis. Dial 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online to get help. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Provides information for state and local early intervention systems regarding the prevalence of infants and toddlers prenatally exposed to substances, and resources and supports needed to promote positive outcomes for these infants and their families. Shares links to key research, policy, guidance and state examples, and evidence-based practices for supporting young children exposed prenatally to substances and their families.