U.S. flag

An official website of the Department of Health & Human Services

AHRQ: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

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.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 156

Best Clinical Practices for Treating Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

This course reviews the historical and current context of opioid use of women during pregnancy. It compares pharmacological treatment options for OUD and discusses issues with detoxification or medically assisted withdrawal from opioids during pregnancy.

Format
Web-Based Course
Audience
Medical Providers
Other Team Members
Source
Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Empowering Rural Communities: Overcoming Barriers to Treatment (PDF - 687 KB KB)

This webinar highlights the unique challenges rural communities face in accessing substance use disorder treatment and presents innovative, community-driven strategies—such as mobile clinics, telehealth, and local partnerships—to expand care and build recovery‑ready environments.
Format
Webinar/Video
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Communities
Source
Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
Year
Resource Type
PDF

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

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

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

Effective Opioid Use Disorder Initiatives for Young Adults (PDF - 408 KB KB)

This issue brief discusses state opioid use disorder intiatives tailored to the needs of young adults. It highlights ways in which the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant can be used to help reduce unmet treatment needs and opioid-related overdose deaths.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Communities
States
Source
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors (NASADAD)
Year
Resource Type
PDF

ENGAGE: Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent Youth Substance Use (PDF - 29.3 MB KB)

This resource contains effective strategies and approaches to help local, community, state, and other organizations plan for and implement a wide range of prevention activities for youth.
Format
Guide
Audience
Families
Children
Communities
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
States
Schools
Source
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Evolving Overdose Response (PDF - 1771 KB KB)

These webinar slideshelp programs update their overdose response protocols when sedatives are in their local drug supply. Contents include xylazine basics, responding to an overdose with sedatives on board, different forms of naloxone, compassionate comebacks, and other tools programs may consider when responding to overdoses.
Format
Other
Audience
Communities
States
First Responders
Families
Source
Thomas Jefferson University
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Expanding Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Innovations Across the Justice and Reentry Continuum (PDF - 644 KB KB)

This issue brief discusses state opioid use disorder intiatives tailored to the needs of justice-involved indidviduals. It highlights ways in which the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant can be used to help expand access to evidence-based treatment across the correctional and reentry continuum.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Communities
States
Source
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors (NASADAD)
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Fentanyl Statistics 2025: Up-to-Date Facts on Abuse and Overdose

This article utilizes the most up-to-date statistics available to provide an accurate picture of the fentanyl crisis in 2024. For some statistics, the most up-to-date information will be cut off in 2021.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Policymakers and Payers
States
Communities
Source
Addiction Group
Year
Resource Type
Web Page