This is a brief report from the National Academy of Medicine that provides and expands upon key priorities to mitigate the worsening of the opioid crisis and other substance use disorders during the coronavirus pandemic. 

This is an academic paper that uses a simulated model to predict the impact of different interventions to reduce opioid-related mortality. No single intervention had a substantial impact, but combining interventions that increase capacity for treatment with medications for opioid use disorder, improve retention on these medications, and increase naloxone distribution had a significant impact, highlighting the need for a portfolio of evidence-based policies and interventions. 

This is a report from the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs that focuses on the special population of reproductive women in rural areas. Special needs of this population who have mental health conditions and/or substance use disorder are discussed along with unique rural challenges to access care. Program models are highlighted that have successful overcome these challenges. 

This is a report from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts that gives an overview of the latest epidemiology on the opioid crisis among Blacks, highlighting a recent disproportionate impact on this population. Disparities in the treatment system are discussed and recommendations are provided. 

This paper reviews the policy environment surrounding recovery support services (RSS), the needs to which they should respond, and the status of current recovery support models. It concludes that RSS should be further assessed for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, that greater efforts must be made to develop the RSS delivery workforce, and that RSS should capitalize on ongoing efforts to create a comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered health care system.

This is a website tailored to medical providers treating opioid use disorder, offering education, trainings and webinars, buprenorphine waiver information, and support from addiction specialists. 

A toolkit which provides guidance on coordination of opioid response services for public health officials, law enforcement, criminal justice officials, and first responders. This resource was developed to aid these separate local jurisdictions in reducing opioid overdose deaths by increasing collaboration and coordination among all sectors. The three goals of this toolkit are to create a shared understanding, optimize capacity, and increase shared accountability for these different branches. 

This is an academic paper that provides an overview of Oregon’s multidimensional approaches towards the opioid crisis, which achieved 20% reductions in opioid prescribing and a 30% reduction in the opioid overdose fatality rate. This comprehensive state response is framed in cautious opioid prescribing, increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and overdose prevention with naloxone. 

Given that stigma and judgment around drug use can lead to being treated differently by doctors and medical staff, this is a booklet developed by the Harm Reduction Coalition that has been written for people who use drugs in order to make going to the doctor and getting other kinds of health care easier. 

This SAMHSA report uses combined 2015-2019 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health to present nationally representative estimates of substance use, substance use disorders, and substance use treatment utilization among people aged 12 or older within different racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The aim of this report is to serve as a benchmark for examining future national-level changes these categories, specifically in the context of relevant policy changes. 

This is a website from the research center RAND that serves as a source for innovative research in opioid policy science. Tools and information on responses to the opioid crisis that target a wide range of stakeholders are provided, which includes a database of academic literature. 

This is a study that followed 931 substance using women who either received traditional services or traditional services plus a recovery coach. The study found that the use of recovery coaches in child welfare significantly decreases the risk of substance exposure at birth.