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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 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 185

2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care

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
File Size
1596 KB

Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Emergency, Crisis, and Crisis Related Services

This document seeks to promote crisis service quality and consistency, and further payer adoption of emergency, crisis, and crisis-related behavioral health services. Achieving these goals will support increased access to quality, equitable emergency, and crisis care for all 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
File Size
2020 KB

National Guidance on Essential Specialty Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA’s) new National Guidance on Essential Specialty Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care articulates a core or essential set of services for adults with SUD that should be available at any specialty SUD treatment facility in the United States.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
States
Policymakers and Payers
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Year
Resource Type
PDF
File Size
2.3 MB

Using SAMHSA Funds to Implement Evidence-Based Contingency Management Services

This Advisory describes a change in funding for Contingency Management (CM) and applicable guardrails. It also outlines the evidence underlying CM and permissible uses of funding for this treatment intervention. At this time, the change in funding applies only to State Opioid Response (SOR) and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grants (subject to an update to grant terms and conditions).
Format
Advisory
Audience
States
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Year
Resource Type
PDF
File Size
430 KB

Advising People on Using 988 Versus 911: Practical Approaches for Healthcare Providers

This Practical Guide provides key considerations for guiding people in the appropriate use of 988 and 911. It offers practical steps for integrating crisis care into daily practice, real world scenarios, sample scripts, and de-escalation techniques.
Format
Guide
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Other Team Members
First Responders
Source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA)
Year
Resource Type
PDF
File Size
4.4 MB

Embracing Equity and Cultural Humility to Improve Care for Youth with Trauma

This resource provides information for youth-serving primary care and behavioral health providers to improve quality of care and patient outcomes and reduce clinician burnout
Format
Guide
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Schools
Communities
Other Team Members
Source
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Year
Resource Type
PDF
File Size
473 KB

Engagement and Retention of Nonabstinent Patients in Substance Use Treatment

This document was developed to provide SUD treatment programs and providers with guidance and support to: 1) address the complexities of patient nonabstinence during treatment; 2) reduce administrative discharges; and 3) implement strategies focused on lowering barriers to care to improve engagement and retention of nonabstinent patients in the continuum of care.
Format
Guide
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Communities
Source
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Year
Resource Type
PDF
File Size
1473 KB

FDA recommends changes to labeling for transmucosal buprenorphine products indicated to treat opioid use disorder

This press release details the FDA's recommended changes to labeling transmucosal buprenorphine products for opioid use disorder treatment. These recommendations are motivated by concerns about misinterpretation about current labeling strategies.
Format
Web Page
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Source
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page