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. 

This is an academic paper that gives a balanced policy analysis of the impact of the decriminalization of illicit drug use in Portugal. A wide array of outcomes are assessed in this drug policy reform. 

Using National Vital Statistics System mortality data (2002-2004 and 2014-2016), this study examined associations of county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and labor market characteristics on overall drug mortality rates and specific classes of opioid mortality. 

This is a white paper from the National Governors Association that discusses the history of how states have used emergency powers to provide governors with new avenues to enhance capabilities, coordination, and collaboration across state and local agencies. Guidance is provided to state officials on how to maximize this tool. 

This is a presentation the describes what fentanyl test strips are, how they might be effective in overdose prevention, discusses legal barriers, and highlights successful pilot programs in distributing fentanyl test strips.