This academic paper describes a policy scan done on the four rural states of Indiana, Maine, Missouri, and Colorado. The paper compared how each state has adapted its Medicaid program to reduce rural maternal opioid misuse. The data collected in the study will inform the best policy implementation strategy to combat maternal opioid misuse and opioid use disorder in rural areas. 

This is an academic paper that provides commentary on an emerging treatment model for opioid use disorder (OUD), where medication treatment is delivered through telemedicine. Different telemedicine models for buprenorphine are discussed, as well as strengths and weaknesses of these models. This is especially relevant due to the recent Covid/coronavirus pandemic. 

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 national data system of both annual admissions and discharges from substance use disorder treatment facilities, predominantly those that are publicly-funded. 

This is a report from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) that summarizes a study finding that increased availability of buprenorphine treatment predicted reductions in certain types of child maltreatment caseloads in 25 states. Implications to the child welfare system are discussed.  

This is an academic paper that provides results of a qualitative study that interviewed buprenorphine prescribers on how they have adapted to the coronavirus pandemic. Most providers were only doing telehealth visits. Noted positives included increased access to treatment and noted negatives included technological issues and less structure and accountability. 

This is an academic paper showing that treating pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) via telemedicine was just as effective as in-person treatment when measuring rates of treatment retention and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), even though the sample size was small (n = 98) and the study did not use randomization. 

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 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 is a website from the University of California, San Francisco that provides tools and resources on the impact of unconscious bias and how to address it. It includes access to the Implicit Association Test, educational resources, and a review of the evidence for this type of training. This training could be especially relevant in the healthcare system. 

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.