Practitioners play a crucial role in helping individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) by providing comprehensive care, support, and access to evidence-based treatments. Here are some useful resources for practitioners working with individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).
Websites
Nevada Recovery Friendly Workplace
In an effort to improve Nevada’s workplaces, the State of Nevada has developed a Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program to reduce the stigma of substance use and encourage workplaces to support treatment and recovery. Through education, and policy and procedure development to support recovery in all aspects, the program provides free resources to become a designated recovery-friendly workplace.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call. Text. Chat.
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Talk To Someone Now | Help Yourself | Help Someone Else
Nevada Zero Suicide
The Zero Suicide framework is a system-wide, organizational commitment to safer suicide care in health and behavioral health care systems. The framework is based on the realization that suicidal individuals often fall through the cracks in a sometimes fragmented and distracted health care system. A systematic approach to quality improvement in these settings is both available and necessary.
Nevada Overdose Data to Action Program
The Overdose Data to Action Program (OD2A) supports the state in getting high quality, comprehensive and timelier data on opioid prescribing and mortality, and to use those data to inform the state’s prevention and interventions efforts. The Nevada OD2A Program is being administered by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health and involves partnerships that include the Nevada Board of Pharmacy, Washoe County Human Services, Washoe County Medical Examiner, Southern Nevada Health District, Family Support Center, and the Larson Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health.
Behavioral Health Nevada
This website is a database of behavioral health providers specializing in substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment services. All agencies listed are Certified by the Division, SAPTA (Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Agency).
State Opioid Treatment Program Regulations
A PEW analysis of all state opioid treatment program regulations and how they support or limit access to care and impact patient experience.
Tools & Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call. Text. Chat.
Nevada Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution Sites
A list and map of Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution Sites in Nevada.
Nevada Overdose Reversal Medication Finder
How to Use Fentanyl Test Strips
Adopt SBIRT
SBIRT is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to delivering early intervention for individuals with risky alcohol & drug use. SBIRT provides a timely referral to more intensive substance use treatment for those with substance use disorders. Primary care centers, ERs, trauma centers, and community health settings provide opportunities for early intervention with at-risk substance users before more severe consequences occur. Adopt SBIRT serves Nevada with expertise and key resources to assist organizations to promote, prepare, adopt, and implement SBIRT.
Wound Care & Medical Triage for People Who Use Drugs and the Programs That Serve Them
This comprehensive guide provides information and recommendations regarding general health, safer use practices, common viral, fungal, parasitic, and other injection-related infections, overdose and overamp, tapering, withdrawal, medications for opioid use disorder, and seeking medical care.
Establishing Peer Support Services for Overdose Response: A Toolkit for Health Departments
Peer support services (PSS) are a valuable component of a growing number of overdose response and linkage to care initiatives that can be implemented and supported by local and state health departments. This toolkit is for local and state health departments and community partners who are exploring opportunities to implement or enhance PSS within overdose response and linkage to care initiatives. This toolkit provides information, resources, tools, actionable steps and real-world examples informed by the latest research, subject matter experts and experiences from diverse settings across the country.
Tools for Overdose Prevention
To help public health practitioners prevent overdose, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developed these resources and tools for overdose prevention.
Screening Tools
There are a number of screening tools available that can be self-administered via pen and paper, computer and tablet, or conducted by an interviewer. Each screening tool has pros and cons and a program should decide which screening tool is best for their agency based on population served with consideration to which substances are being used as well as state/regional billable terms for utilization of specific screening forms. Adopt SBIRT offers training and technical assistance on the use of screening assessments.
Overdose Reversal Medication for Professionals
A Nevada provider’s guide to prescribing Naloxone to patients who use opioids.
Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA) Practice Guide 2023
This guide was drawn from HEALing Communities Study (HCS) learnings to-date and expert insights to provide guidance regarding implementation of ORCCA menu strategies.
The Nevada Opioid Overdose Surveillance Dashboard
Includes graphs and tables on death rates, opioid-related emergency department visits and inpatient admissions, and opioid prescriptions at the county-level and zip code-level.
CDC Fatal Overdose (SUDORS) Dashboard
A dashboard to look at overdose death data for 2020 by substance for 29 states/jurisdictions.
CDC Non-Fatal Drug Overdose (DOSE) Dashboard
A dashboard to look at emergency department non-fatal overdose data since February 2018 for all drugs, all opioids, heroin, or all stimulants by state.
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Tool Kit for Peer Recovery Specialists
This toolkit is a resource for Peer Recovery Specialists (PRSs) to feel equipped to discuss MOUD with providers, people seeking recovery, and others with questions about this treatment option.
Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit
This toolkit provides guidance to a wide range of individuals on preventing and responding to an overdose. The toolkit also emphasizes that harm reduction and access to treatment are essential aspects of overdose prevention.
Storage and Disposal of Medication
Improper prescription drug use is a serious public health issue. Storing and disposing of medications properly can help reduce harm.
Publications
Reducing the Stigma of Addiction: What we say and do matters to patients with substance use disorder
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). Reducing the Stigma of Addiction. [Webpage]. Retrieved from [https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/stigma-of-addiction]
Fast Facts About Substance Use Disorders: What Every Nurse, APRN, and PA Needs to Know (Book)
This resource is the first to provide evidence-based information and strategies for APRNs and PAs who work with individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Written in a concise, bulleted style for easy access to critical information, the reference addresses often-undiagnosed medical and psychiatric conditions which may accompany SUDs and the ethical considerations of working with affected patients and families.
Xylazine Basics: Overdose Prevention, Harm Reduction, and Wound Care
This document provides information on xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer used as an additive in illicit drug supplies, notably in combination with heroin and fentanyl. It discusses the effects of xylazine use, including sedation and potential risks such as hypotension and bradycardia. The document also emphasizes harm reduction interventions for individuals who may encounter xylazine in the drug supply, including the use of naloxone for responding to overdoses and the importance of wound identification and treatment.
Dear Colleague Letter – Xylazine
This “Dear Colleague” letter from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a report on the risks of Xylazine.
Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy: A Joint Opinion of the ACOG’s Committee on Obstetric Practice and ASAM
The Society of Maternal–Fetal Medicine endorses this document. This Committee Opinion was developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Obstetric Practice in collaboration with committee members Maria A. Mascola, MD, MPH; Ann E. Borders, MD, MSc, MPH; and the American Society of Addiction Medicine member Mishka Terplan, MD, MPH.
Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change
Foote, Jeffrey. (2014). Beyond addiction : how science and kindness help people change : a guide for families. New York, NY :Scribner
The most innovative leaders in progressive addiction treatment in the US offer a groundbreaking, science-based guide to helping loved ones overcome addiction problems and compulsive behaviors.
Opioid Use Disorder
Dydyk AM, Jain NK, Gupta M. Opioid Use Disorder. [Updated 2024 Jan]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan.
This activity focuses on the critical evaluation and management of opioid use disorder (OUD), a pervasive condition significantly diminishing patients’ quality of life and contributing to a widespread epidemic in the United States.
Evidence-Based Strategies for Preventing Opioid Overdose: What’s Working in the United States
There are strategies that can assist community leaders, local and regional organizers, non-profit groups, law enforcement, public health, and members of the public in understanding and navigating effective ways to prevent opioid overdose in their communities. Use this information as a reference for evidence-based practices that have been successfully implemented in the U.S.
State Harm Reduction Strategies to Address Substance Use and Related Outcomes Among Women of Childbearing Age
Nevada Use of STR/SOR Grant Funds to Address the Opioid Crisis
Nevada Opioid Crisis Strategic Plan (Updated December 2018)
The Nevada State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Strategic Plan was submitted to SAMHSA on December 21, 2018. The details of the plan can be found in the following document.
Nevada Opioid Crisis Needs Assessment (Updated December 2018)
The purpose of this needs assessment is to identify the opioid use disorder (OUD) crisis in Nevada related to:
- The geographical and demographic areas where opioid misuse and related harms are most prevalent;
- All existing activities and funding sources in the state/jurisdiction that address opioid use prevention, treatment and recovery activities; and
- Gaps in the existing services and resources to be addressed.
The needs assessment will inform decision making on how to best address the opioid crisis. The details of the needs assessment can be found in the following document.
Provider Training Needs Assessment
In February 2018, a total of 1,074 healthcare providers responded to a needs assessment designed to guide development of opioid-related trainings to facilitate successful implementation of Nevada’s Opioid State Targeted Response.
Medicaid Coverage of Medications to Reverse Opioid Overdose and Treat Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders
This report provides an update on the present state of coverage, availability of, and access to, medications for treating ongoing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) and reversing an opioid overdose within state Medicaid plans. It also includes examples of innovative efforts to increase access to medications for the treatment of SUDs.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Services for Opioid Dependence Billing Instructions Guide
The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy has taken action to address the opioid crisis by updating Nevada Medicaid policy and opening Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)-related evaluation and management (E/M) codes for billing by Nevada Medicaid providers effective with dates of service on or after January 1, 2020. In addition to MAT related E/M codes, Nevada Medicaid opened Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) codes to assist providers in performing screening services to recipients at risk or struggling with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
Pharmacologic Guidelines for Treating Individuals with PTSD and Co-Occurring Opioid Use Disorders
This manual offers guidelines for medication-assisted treatment for people, particularly veterans, living with post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring opioid use disorders. It covers screening, concomitant treatment, pharmacotherapy, and multiple misused substances.
Evidence-Based, Whole Person Care of Pregnant People Who Have Opioid Use Disorder
This Advisory outlines how healthcare providers (i.e., obstetrician-gynecologists [OB-GYNs], primary care physicians, and other professionals who treat pregnant people) can take an active role in supporting the health of pregnant individuals who have OUD and their babies.
The ASAM National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (2020 Focused Update)
Executive Summary of the Focused Update of the ASAM National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
ATTC Educational Packages for Opioid Use Disorders
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network Coordinating Office (NCO), funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), has designed three competency-based guides to raise awareness of resources available to build the capacity of the workforce to address the opioid crisis. The digital guides are relevant to psychologists, counselors, social workers, peer support workers, and other behavioral health professionals who intersect with people at risk for misuse of, or who are already misusing, opioids.
Pocket Guide: Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders
In My Own Words
A compilation of essays by individuals supported by Medication-Assisted Treatment in long-term recovery.
TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) reviews the use of the three Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications used to treat OUD—methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine—and the other strategies and services needed to support recovery for people with OUD.
Posters & Infographics
Prescribe 365 Prescribing in Nevada Pocket Card
Download the Pocket Card
Opioid Trifold Brochures
Stimulant Trifold Brochures
Xylazine: Clinical Management and Harm Reduction Strategies for Patients
Prevent Addiction Fact Sheet
Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Fact Sheet
Webinars & Online Learning
Connecting university-based faculty specialists to primary care providers in rural and under-served areas.
Pain Management ECHO
Learn how to assess and manage your patients with pain through a variety of non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic modalities, as well as best practice approaches to minimizing the risk of addiction. This clinic is a forum guided by a Pain Management Physician, a Pain Management Psychologist, and a Mental Health and Addiction Specialist.
SBIRT for Health Professionals ECHO
The SBIRT for Health Professionals ECHO will provide community health professionals with the training and support they need to manage substance use issues within health settings specializing in treating pregnant and non-pregnant persons of reproductive age populations using an SBIRT model.
In this recorded webinar, panelists provide a brief overview of Xylazine, a substance newly found in illicit drug supplies, and its impacts on the unsheltered community. Panelists will share their lived expertise with xylazine, its effects, organizational best practices for wound care, overdose response, and harm reduction.
To support linkage to care efforts for people at risk of overdose, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed Overdose Response and Linkage to Care: A Roadmap for Health Departments, a technical assistance tool informed by real-world experience. Attendees of this webinar will hear directly from health department staff implementing a variety of these linkage to care strategies to prevent overdose. These strategies can be adapted and replicated to meet the needs of communities across the country.
This Training is designed to educate mandated reporters on opioid misuse and abuse and how to report to Nevada Adult Protective Services if you suspect abuse of vulnerable adults.
Current News & Research
DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the American public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use.
Southern Nevada Health District calls attention to xylazine risk
The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) is urging heightened public awareness of the health dangers associated with xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that is increasingly being found in the country’s illicit drug supply and linked to overdose deaths throughout the United States. Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is not approved for human consumption. It can be life-threatening and is especially dangerous when combined with opioids such as fentanyl.
Opioid Use Disorder Assessment Tools and Drug Screening
Ducharme J, Moore S. Opioid Use Disorder Assessment Tools and Drug Screening. Mo Med. 2019 Jul-Aug;116(4):318-324. PMID: 31527982; PMCID: PMC6699803.
Opioid use disorder risk assessment tools cannot be used in isolation. In combination with standardized clinical examination, and, when indicated, urine drug screening, a validated risk assessment tool, improves the ability to detect opioid misuse. Even though no single tool has been shown to have both high interobserver reliability and high sensitivity, the standardized approach has still been shown to be superior to subjective care giver assessment. This article will provide a global approach to risk assessment in addition to reviewing the available tools.
The Opioid Epidemic’s Toll on Children
This article from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health discusses the opioid epidemic’s toll on children.
“It’s called overamping”: experiences of overdose among people who use methamphetamine” by University of Nevada, Reno, School of Public Health & University of New Mexico Health Sciences
The USA is experiencing increases in methamphetamine use and methamphetamine-related or attributed deaths. In the current study, we explore qualitative narratives of methamphetamine overdose and strategies used by people who use drugs to reduce the undesirable effects associated with methamphetamine use.
Factors Associated With Calling 911 for an Overdose: An Ethnographic Decision Tree Modeling Approach
Identification of Non-Fatal Opioid Overdose Cases Using 9-1-1 Computer Assisted Dispatch and Prehospital Patient Clinical Record Variables
Filter Magazine – Why New 12-Step Members May Avoid Carrying Naloxone by Jeanette Bowles, PhD, University of California San Diego, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health
For new members of 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, naloxone can still seem like a symbol of drug use, according to new research. This can cause some people looking to kick drugs through these large abstinence-based fellowships—NA, for example, holds 70,000 weekly meetings in 144 countries, according to a 2018 survey—to decline to carry the overdose-reversal drug, seeing it as a relic of a past life.