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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 0.69 MB] and Volume 2 [PDF 1.28 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 166

2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care (PDF - 1596 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

Behavioral Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Populations (PDF - 4.2 MB)

The Behavioral Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Populations report highlights findings from the 2023 SAMHSA publication Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Behavioral Health: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health on the elevated rates of substance use, suicidality, and mental illness among LGB individuals compared to straight individuals.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Other Team Members
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Challenges in Standardizing SUD Care Coordination (PDF - 309 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

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

Filling the Gaps in SUD Care Coordination (PDF - 309 KB)

This blog post highlights key challenges facing care coordination in substance use disorder care
Format
Web Page
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Communities
Source
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Guide to Long-acting Medications (PDF - 3.1 MB)

The guide urges all community mental health and substance use treatment clinicians to provide long-acting medications as a first-line treatment option.
Format
Guide
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Communities
Families
Source
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Module 5: Planning for Funding and Sustainability

This module discusses the key issues in planning for sustainability of health programs in rural communities.

Format
Web-Based Course
Audience
Communities
Other Team Members
Policymakers and Payers
States
Source
Rural Health Information Hub
Year
Resource Type
Web Page