Policymakers & Community Leaders

Opioids Uncharted Initiative

Source: RAND Corporation

The website for RAND Corporation’s Opioids Uncharted initiative compiles RAND’s research on all aspects of the opioid crisis with an emphasis on understanding the multifaceted complexity of the issue. The website includes links to reports, commentaries, blog posts, and multimedia resources.

External Website
Policymakers & Community Leaders

Bringing Science to Bear on Opioids: Report and Recommendations from the ASPPH Task Force on Public Health Initiatives to Address the Opioid Crisis

Source: Association of Schools & Program of Public Health

This 2019 report from the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) presents the recommendations of ASPPH’s Task Force on Public Health Initiatives to Address the Opioid Crisis. The report provides recommendations for policy officials to address the crisis in 8 subject areas:

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Policymakers & Community Leaders

Illegal Pill Presses: An Overlooked Threat to American Patients

Source: National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, and The Partnership for Safe Medicines

This report examines the use of illegal pill presses to create counterfeit medications that have been linked to overdose deaths in 29 states. Written by professionals from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, and the Partnership for Safe Medicines, the report looks at the extent of the problem and considers possible legislative and law enforcement options to address the risk.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

HHS.gov/Opioids

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Website for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opioid initiative. Includes specific information about prevention, treatment, recovery, and HHS’s response to the crisis, as well as resources to find treatment, HHS opioid reports, and videos of personal stories.

External Website
Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

This 2016 comprehensive report includes detailed information on the prevalence of substance use and misuse in America, an overview of the science of addiction, information about the continuum of care from prevention through treatment to recovery, and a discussion of how health systems are changing to meet the growing need for addiction services.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

This 2018 “Spotlight on Opioids” report from the US Surgeon General includes information about the prevalence of opioid use disorder in America, discusses the neurobiology of opioid addiction, describes the continuum of care for treatment and recovery, and provides a list of key federal resources.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders
Payers & Providers
Patients & Caregivers

Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act)

Source: U.S. Federal Legislation

This is the comprehensive opioid use disorder legislation passed by the 115th Congress and signed into law by the president in 2018. The bill is known as the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, or the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

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Policymakers & Community Leaders

Opioid Use Disorder: Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities

Source: Pew Charitable Trusts

This 2019 briefing paper from the Pew Charitable Trusts describes challenges rural communities face in providing access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD). The report provides a brief overview of strategies federal, state, and local governments can adopt to expand access to treatment.

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