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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 235

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

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

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

DEA Education Requirements

ASAM offers a comprehensive range of CME programs, including live courses, webinars, and on-demand content focused on various aspects of addiction medicine.

Format
Web-Based Course
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Source
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
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

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Primary Care Practice Toolkit

This toolkit provides comprehensive guidance on implementing clinical guidelines and billing
practices to effectively integrate MOUD into clinical environments. 

Link
https://groupmosaic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Mosaic-Group-MOUD-Toolkit-for-Primary-Care.pdf
Format
Guide
Audience
Behavioral Health Providers
Medical Providers
Other Team Members
Source
Mosaic Group
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Meeting Guide | Alcoholics Anonymous

Free app for finding AA meetings.

Format
Web Page
Audience
Communities
Families
Patients
Source
Alcoholics Anonymous
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

Model Definitions for Behavioral Health Emergency, Crisis, and Crisis Related Services (PDF - 2020 KB)

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