This is an academic paper that provides commentary on the history of equipping nonparamedic first responders, such as fire fighers and law enforcement, with naloxone in Massachusetts. These first responders are typically the first, and sometimes the only, source of prehospital emergency care. Therefore, training and authorizing them to administer naloxone is a promising strategy to address the opioid crisis. 

This is a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts that examines approaches state policymakers, such as legislators and health agency directors, can take to make naloxone widely available to people at risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose, such as naloxone access laws, community distribution channels, equipping first responders with naloxone, and distribution in high-risk settings.  

This is a report from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) that presents findings from a qualitative study that explores the unique challenges, joys, and experiences of peer recovery coaches (PRCs) across the US. Through a better understanding of the PRCs’ roles, this research aims to identify support opportunities for the population, such as workforce development, the certification process, and measures of success.

This comprehensive report from the Surgeon General addresses the entire continuum of care for substance use disorder (SUD) including chapters on prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery. There are also chapters on the neurobiology of SUD, the healthcare system, and specific suggestions for key stakeholders. The appendices at the end of the report contain many links to helpful resources. 

This special release by the Surgeon General is an extension of the previous comprehensive report on substance use disorders, highlighting extensive opioid-related information in one document. It provides the latest data on prevalence of substance use, opioid misuse, opioid use disorders, opioid overdoses, and related harms. There are additional resources embedded throughout the report. 

 An ONDCP/USDA document that provides a comprehensive and expansive list of resources organized by 26 different categories and also lists various funding opportunities to address the opioid crisis across the continuum of care.

This is a brief report from the Northern New England Poison Center that provides recommendations for handling fentanyl and its analogues out in the field. The risks to first responders are minimal, especially through skin absorption, and use of excessive protective equipment could delay patient care. 

This is a report from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative that discusses the methods and results of the FORECAST study, a comprehensive project to better understand drug checking technologies, such as fentanyl test strips, and how people who use drugs and organizations that serve this population might use these technologies. 

This is a brief report from the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association that explains how fentanyl test strips work, summarizes the evidence of their harm reduction benefits, and discusses the current challenges surrounding their legality. 

This is an academic paper that explored the real world use of fentanyl test strips (FTS). The study found that using FTS and receiving a positive test result was associated with changes in drug use behavior and perceptions of overdose safety.

This is an article from EMS World, a journal tailored to emergency medical service responders, that discusses the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) response to the opioid crisis, which includes innovative data collection, active outreach, and collaboration with other stakeholders. 

This is a report from the Deloitte Center for Government Insights that describes a ecological approach to addressing the opioid crisis. A portfolio of policies, multi-sector collaboration, innovation, and feasibility/sustainability are features of this approach.