Resources
8 Results (showing 1 - 8)
Results sorted by updated date (newest first)
Results sorted by updated date (newest first)
Posted 12/16/2020 (updated 4/4/2024)
Drug overdose is a continuing epidemic that claimed the lives of over 67,000 Americans in 2018. Opioids, either alone or in combination with other substances, were responsible for approximately 70 percent of these deaths. Unfortunately, state laws and local rules can make it difficult for people who inject drugs to access lifesaving treatments and supplies, and variations in laws among states can create confusion between both people who inject drugs and people and organizations working to ensure that they have the supplies they need to protect themselves and others. This survey of state laws outlines how the legal landscape in each state may affect access to harm reduction services and supplies.
Posted 10/5/2020 (updated 3/29/2024)
This review looks at evidence and program models for alternatives to hospitalization to treat serious infections in people who inject drugs.
Posted 6/8/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
There are multiple systems that can help individuals to address substance use disorder (SUD). A new report from the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law Center discusses how these multiple systems are often disjointed which creates barriers for those needing to access services for SUD.
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 7/25/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
In 2019, the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) at the University of Washington launched the “Meds First” program to provide onsite, low-barrier access to buprenorphine in partnership with six syringe services programs across WA State. A key component of the Meds First service model was the addition of care navigation to support client engagement and retention in OUD treatment.
Posted 7/12/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Syringe services programs (SSP) are harm reduction programs that provide a wide range of services including, but not typically limited to, the provision of new, unused hypodermic needles and syringes and other injection drug use supplies, such as cookers, tourniquets, alcohol wipes, and sharps waste disposal containers, to people who inject drugs. In this summary, readers will find information with respect to SSPs for each state, including citations to applicable statutes and/or regulations, whether the state allows SSPs by statute, whether there are any municipal or county ordinances or regulations in place within the state, program components, miscellaneous provisions, and information on any pending legislation.
Posted 3/31/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Stigma is a social process linked to power and control which leads to creating stereotypes and assigning labels to those that are considered deviate from the norm or behave “badly” -- stigma creates the social conditions that makes people who use drugs believe they are not deserving of being treated with dignity & respect, perpetuating feelings of fear and isolation. This resource also includes additional stigma documents.
Posted 2/9/2022 (updated 3/26/2024)
Summary of innovation abstracts that were presented at the National Academy of Medicine’s recent Stigma of Addiction Summit.