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22 Results (showing 1 - 10)
Results sorted by updated date (oldest first)
Results sorted by updated date (oldest first)
Posted 7/28/2023 (updated 3/26/2024)
The Rural Health Information Hub's (RHIhub) article covers best practices and emerging models for rural harm reduction programs. Among those featured in the article is the RCORP-TA grantee, the South Dakota State University's program Stigma, Treatment, Avoidance and Recovery in Time - South Dakota (START-SD).
Posted 4/12/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Since 1999, an estimated 841,000 people in the U.S. have died from a drug overdose. Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated the overdose crisis resulting in a 30% increase in 2020 compared to 2019. The majority of overdose deaths in the U.S. involve opioids, including nearly 71% of all overdose deaths in 2019.3 Despite high rates of overdose across the nation, overdose and overdose death are preventable. However, people at risk of overdose often face significant challenges accessing treatment and navigating systems of care. Local and state health departments are well-suited to lead and support efforts to prevent and respond to overdose and to link people to evidence-based treatment and services. 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.
Posted 9/14/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA (FDA Foundation), in partnership with several operating divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), convened two roundtable meetings to understand the perspectives of the harm reduction community, clinicians, and researchers about using fentanyl drug checking and screening as harm reduction and clinical strategies.
Posted 6/3/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
This session highlighted the ways in which data from RCORP consortia are used, how service capacity and access have changed, and whether there is evidence that the health status of rural residents is improving. Additional data on telehealth utility, COVID-19 vaccination efforts, and drivers of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) retention was highlighted.
Posted 6/7/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
This session highlighted the ways in which data from RCORP consortia are used, how service capacity and access have changed, and whether there is evidence that the health status of rural residents is improving. Additional data on telehealth utility, COVID-19 vaccination efforts, and drivers of MAT retention were highlighted. (Repeated from Day 1 Session 4A on Tuesday, April 5th).
Posted 4/28/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
With the proliferation of fentanyl and other adulterants in the national illicit drug supply, people who use drugs (PWUD) are at greater risk of overdose. Among more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths that occurred between July 2021–June 2022, 64% involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Lowering the high rates of overdose among PWUD is possible, as evidence-based practices exist to prevent and respond to overdose, including fentanyl test strips and advanced drug checking equipment. To inform health departments’ harm reduction programming, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing – with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – developed Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment, an educational brief grounded by real-world experience.
Posted 11/20/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the use of Alltest Fentanyl Urine Test Cassette, which is the first over-the-counter test for the preliminary detection of fentanyl in urine. The test works by placing three drops of fresh urine onto a cassette containing a fentanyl test strip. After 5 minutes the test result will appear as colored lines. Although the test does not distinguish between certain drugs and medications.
Posted 7/14/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has compiled a Harm Reduction Framework document that will inform the agency's activities, policies, programs, and practices. The framework document includes SAMHSA's six pillars of harm reduction as well as supporting principles and core practice areas.
Posted 7/21/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a plan in response to fentanyl being adulterated or associated with xylazine, which was declared as an emerging drug threat in April 2023. Due to the effect of combining these substances, people may be less responsive to naloxone in an overdose situation. The response plan includes evidence-based prevention, treatment, and supply reduction action steps, goals, and performance measures.
Posted 7/26/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
This presentation provided an overview of the (1) current U.S. prevalence of opioid abuse and OUD and their societal consequences, (2) impacts of the opioid epidemic on rural geographic areas and populations, (3) recent emergence of synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl) and xylazine in the U.S. drug supply, and (4) most empirically supported treatment for patients with OUD.