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.
Harm Reduction Resources
- Cautious Opioid Prescribing
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
- Overdose prevention
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Policymakers
This is a report from the Public Library Association and OCLC that describes how public libraries are supporting their communities through the opioid crisis and how libraries are partnering with organizations to meet local needs. The responses of eight public libraries across the nation are discussed in detail within this document.
- Overdose prevention
- Recovery coaching
- Advocates / Peers
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
- Policymakers
This is an article from NASHP that describes Louisiana's statewide response to ensure access to harm reduction services, which include syringe service programs, overdose prevention, and infectious disease testing. Funding allocation, the use of telemedicine, and addressing disparities is discussed.
- COVID / Coronavirus related
- Overdose prevention
- Syringe service program / Needle exchange
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
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.
- Educational
- Addiction Treatment Providers
- Advocates / Peers
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
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.
- Educational
- Community Coalitions
- Policymakers
This is an academic paper that provides a review of public health messaging related to harm reduction, and calls for these services as being essential during the coronavirus pandemic. The reference list has 60 reports and papers related to the intersection of the opioid crisis and the pandemic.
- COVID / Coronavirus related
- Educational
- Overdose prevention
- Safe Injection Site
- Syringe service program / Needle exchange
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
- Policymakers
This is a consensus report based on a meeting of experts that provides guidelines to implement best practices in syringe service programs (SSP) related to implementation, operations, data collection, and research/evaluation.
- Syringe service program / Needle exchange
- Advocates / Peers
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
This resource guide from SAMHSA explains that the central focus of a recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) is to create an infrastructure or system of care with the resources to effectively address the full range of substance use problems within communities. Recovery-oriented activities include providing a menu of traditional treatment services and alternative therapies, including peer recovery coaching, acupuncture, meditation, and music and art therapy.
According to this document, recovery support services, including employment assistance, child care, care management, and housing support, may enhance the engagement of individuals and their families in achieving and sustaining recovery.
- Comprehensive services
- Housing, Education, and Employment
- Recovery coaching
- Addiction Treatment Providers
- Advocates / Peers
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Health Insurers
- Policymakers
This is a report from JBS International targeted towards people who use drugs that provides guidance on navigating the coronavirus pandemic and decreasing risk of overdose, including safe injection practices, access to naloxone, and treatment options.
- COVID / Coronavirus related
- Overdose prevention
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
This is an issue brief from the American Medical Association (AMA) that provides regularly updated literature (news articles and reports on the local, state, and federal levels) on the increase in opioid-related consequences due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- COVID / Coronavirus related
- Educational
- Overdose prevention
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Hospitals
- Policymakers
This is a fact sheet from the Harm Reduction Coalition that describes stigma among people who use drugs and ways to reduce that stigma.
- Educational
- Syringe service program / Needle exchange
- Community Health Officials
- Harm Reduction Specialists
This is a toolkit from the ONDCP and USDA that serves as a guide to resources that can help make a difference in rural communities in addressing the opioid crisis and substance use in general. It features a comprehensive funding clearinghouse, interactive tools to assess the opioid problem at the county level, a treatment and services locator, a links to technical assistance and trainings.
- Educational
- Addiction Treatment Providers
- Community Coalitions
- Community Health Officials
- Medical
- Policymakers