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Substance Use Tools & Resources   

Read the Guide

This collection of tools and resources is for providers, staff, and patients who offer or use services to address substance use, and other interested stakeholders. This collection was originally established following an environmental scan on implementing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural primary care. (See PDFs of Volume 1 (PDF - 609 KB) and Volume 2 (PDF - 1.3 MB) of that scan). Items have been continuously added to this collection since then, and the collection has expanded to cover substance use more broadly, rather than just MAT for OUD.

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Course 4: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

As part of the Substance Use Disorder 101 Core Curriculum from PCSS, this course reviews and compares pharmacological treatment options for individuals with OUD, including methadone, buprenorphine (sublingual and injectable formulations), and naltrexone (oral and long-acting intramuscular formulations). Evidence for each medication is reviewed in detail, and studies comparing each are discussed. The purpose and goal of medications for OUD are reviewed, and different treatment models are presented. The course includes case vignettes in which medication options for OUD are considered.

Format
Web-Based Course
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Source
Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS)
Year

2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care (PDF - 1.6 MB KB)

This new publication provides guidance and highlight effective practices for crisis care services across the country. SAMHSA has identified the essential elements for an effective crisis continuum such that everyone in the nation has a robust system that meets their needs, one that includes “someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help.”

Format
Guide
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Other Team Members
Policymakers and Payers
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Behind the Numbers: Making Sense of Trends in the Drug Supply and Overdose Rates

This webinar recording explores why novel psychoactive substances and new markets have emerged in recent years and breaks down recent overdose data trends and gaps.
Format
Webinar/Video
Audience
States
Policymakers and Payers
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Communities
Source
Overdose Prevention Network
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Blueprint for a National Prevention Infrastructure for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders

This interactive resource highlights findings from the 2025 report, Blueprint for a National Prevention Infrastructure for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders and includes actionable recommendations for various audiences.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Communities
Policymakers and Payers
Graduate Education
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Source
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Challenges in Standardizing SUD Care Coordination (PDF - 309 KB KB)

This brief identifies key challenges to achieving standardization in substance use disorder (SUD) care coordination and offers solutions to create a reliable and fair system of care.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Communities
Source
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Clinical Guidance for PrEP

This page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides comprehensive guidance on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.

Format
Web Page
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Source
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Clinical Screening and Diagnosis for Hepatitis C

This page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides comprehensive guidelines on clinical screening and diagnosis for Hepatitis C.

Format
Web Page
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Source
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Combatting Stigma with Knowledge

This blog post discusses substance use disorders and their associated stigma. It highlights how improved knowledge about substance use disorders can combat stigma.

Format
Web Page
Audience
Communities
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Contingency Management for Adults with Substance Use Disorder: Evidence Roundup

This Better Care Playbook Evidence Roundup highlights emerging evidence on the effectiveness of contingency management interventions and strategies to scale implementation.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Policymakers and Payers
States
Behavioral Health Providers
Source
Center for Health Care Strategies
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Continuing Medical Education Articles

The American Medical Association (AMA) offers specialized CME courses in addiction care.

Format
Web-Based Course
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Source
American Medical Association (AMA)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page