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 11 - 20 of 125

Monitoring the Future Study Annual Report National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2025: Overview and Detailed Results for Secondary School Students (PDF - 806 MB)

This report summarizes nearly five decades of U.S. survey data (1976-2025) on substance use among secondary school students highlighting long-term trends, prevalence patterns, and demographic differences in the use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other drugs.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Schools
Communities
States
Source
Institute for Social Research at University of Michigan
Year
Resource Type
PDF

NDEWS Weekly Briefings

The website releases the weekly briefings that curate recent news, research, surveillance data, and emerging drug trends from the U.S.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Policymakers and Payers
States
Source
National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Optimizing Opioid Overdose Response

This video series provides brief, practical guidance for clinicians on recognizing opioid overdose and implementing evidence‑based response strategies, including timely naloxone use and patient-centered follow‑up care.
Format
Webinar/Video
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Source
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Overdose Prevention Data Channel

This interactive dashboard integrates multiple national data sources to provide timely information on fatal and nonfatal drug overdose trends, risk factors, and opportunities for intervention, helping communities better understand and respond to the overdose crisis.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
States
Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Overdose Risk Assessment Tool: A Guide for Loved Ones and Allies (PDF - 595 KB)

This tool is a 15‑question self‑assessment designed to help people who use drugs (PWUD) identify factors that increase their risk of overdose and to support conversations with loved ones or allies about safety.
Format
Instrument/Protocol
Audience
Patients
Families
Communities
Source
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Sentinel Site Reports

This page provides monthly and archived Sentinel Site Reports from the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), summarizing local drug‑use trends, emerging substances, overdose patterns, and other surveillance findings from communities across the U.S.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Policymakers and Payers
States
Communities
Source
National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Sound the Alarm: Youth Vaping Can Harm (PDF - 7.6 MB)

This guide summarizes the prevalence of youth vaping in the United States, explains the health risks of nicotine and e-cigarette use, highlights the role of illegal and youth-targeted vaping products, and provides prevention, education, and cessation resources for youth, families, educators, and healthcare professionals.
Format
Guide
Audience
Families
Children
Schools
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Source
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Surgeon General
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Strategies to Reduce the Risks and Harms of Alcohol Use (PDF - 499.44 KB)

This resource explains how unhealthy alcohol use affects health and provides practical strategies and guidance to help individuals reduce drinking, lower related risks, and seek support when needed.
Format
Fact Sheet/Brochure
Audience
Patients
Medical Providers
Source
Providers Clinical Support System Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (PCSS-MAUD)
Year
Resource Type
PDF