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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 - 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 242

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

Course 4: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

As part of the Substance Use Disorder 101 Core Curriculum from PCSS, this course reviews and compares pharmacological treatment options for individuals with OUD, including methadone, buprenorphine (sublingual and injectable formulations), and naltrexone (oral and long-acting intramuscular formulations). Evidence for each medication is reviewed in detail, and studies comparing each are discussed. The purpose and goal of medications for OUD are reviewed, and different treatment models are presented. The course includes case vignettes in which medication options for OUD are considered.

Format
Web-Based Course
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Source
Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS)
Year

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

Peer Recovery Support Services Policy Landscape and Analysis (PDF - 1,930 KB KB)

This document provides a policy landscape and analysis of Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS), offering an overview of how states are defining, certifying, financing, and integrating the peer support workforce while also identifying policy gaps and opportunities for strengthening services.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Policymakers and Payers
States
Source
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Year
Resource Type
PDF

Substance Use Disorder Treatment Legislation Database

This database tracks legislation related to treatment for substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorder. 
Format
Web Page
Audience
Policymakers and Payers
Communities
States
Source
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Year
Resource Type
Web Page

The Role of State Alcohol and Drug Agencies (PDF - 1290 KB KB)

This updated brief reviews the important role that State alcohol and drug agencies play in managing the publicly funded prevention, treatment, and recovery system. The brief notes that these agencies operate under different State statutes and regulations and vary in size, along with agency placement within government.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
States
Policymakers and Payers
Source
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors (NASADAD)
Year
Resource Type
PDF

2025 AMA Report on Substance Use and Treatment: Progress, Policy and Future Directions (PDF - 6.6 MB KB)

This report presents data on substance use and treatment. It identifies existing gaps in pain care, treatment for opioid use disorder, naloxone, and emerging threats such as polysubstance use and cannabis use disorder. Though, opioid-related deaths have dropped recently, the report concludes that the opioid epidemic is evolving faster than our systems are.
Format
Report/Paper/Issue Brief
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Other Team Members
Source
American Medical Association (AMA)
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

Buprenorphine Self-Start (PDF - 3.4 MB KB)

This document provides patient‑friendly guidance for starting buprenorphine outside of traditional clinical settings, offering multilingual self‑start instructions.
Format
Fact Sheet/Brochure
Audience
Medical Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Patients
Communities
Source
CA Bridge
Year
Resource Type
PDF