This is a report from the Bipartisan Policy Center that tracks spending targeted to address the opioid crisis across the federal government for fiscal year 2019 and provides insight into how funds are being spent at the state and county level, with specific case studies on six states - Ohio, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Washington. 

This is an academic paper that evaluated an intervention in Missouri to educate law enforcement and other first responders on the risks of fentanyl exposure, where misinformation has led to amplified fears of incidental exposure and possible delays in responding to overdoses. This pilot program showed positive results in correcting first responders’ potentially dangerous misconception that they can overdose from touching fentanyl. 

This policy brief from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) reviews several key opportunities to remedy the problem of the lack of evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder in rural communities. It emphasizes a dual focus on making medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) an option in all rural communities and fully funding rural mental health infrastructure. There is also an extensive set of policy recommendations in this document. 

This is a toolkit from National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center that provides a wide range of information on the opioid crisis, what tribal communities are doing to address the issue, and access to documents that other communities can use to implement a response. 

This is an academic paper that provides an overview of harm reduction strategies to address the opioid crisis, including syringe service programs, opioid agonist therapy, supervised injection facilities, and overdose prevention with naloxone. 

This is a report outlining a four pronged strategy for overdose prevention with the goal of strengthening prevention efforts and increasing access to the full continuum of care and services for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). The four target areas in this strategy are primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support. In addition this strategy is aimed at all populations with OUD in an effort to be more inclusive. 

This website links to the necessary material for a half-day training on reducing drug-related stigma. Developed by the Harm Reduction Coalition, this training is relevant for community-based direct service staff, caseworkers, therapists, peer advocates, program administrators, medical providers, and all who are interested in understanding and addressing drug-related stigma.

There is a guide, a workbook, a presentation, and video clips as part of the training. 

This is an academic paper that provides a review on what is known about the links between suicide and overdoses, with a focus on pathways through opioid use, issues of intent, risk factors, prevention strategies, and unresolved issues. Untreated and undertreated pain leading to suicide is also explored. 

This study explores community perspectives on harm reduction approaches to opioid use and overdose in a high-risk Northern Appalachian community in Pennsylvania. A variety of conflicting perspectives are described, highlighting the challenges small communities face in creating comprehensive plans to address the opioid crisis.

This is a report from the CDC that discusses the difference between rural and urban areas in the types of opioids involved in drug overdose deaths, deaths involving psychostimulants, geographic differences, and trends over the time period 1999-2019. 

The Opioid Misuse Resource Map provides a list of interventions at the community level to address the opioid crisis by each state. The list shows a number of opioid-related projects that have been compiled from USDA partners and agencies throughout the US. 

This report is a part of SAMHSA's Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series. It promotes policies and practices to lower the risk of overdose for persons with opioid use disorder who are or have been in contact with criminal justice systems with a focus on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

This guide:

• reviews literature and science
• examines emerging and best practices
• determines key components of peer-reviewed models that affect policies and programs
• and identifies challenges and gaps in implementation

Additionally, examples of implemented programs and links to resources are provided in this document.