How can stigma contribute to the deaths of people struggling with substance use disorder (SUD)? Stigma can cause social isolation and can discourage people from seeking help. Which can lead to an influx in substance related deaths. To raise awareness Shatterproof has issued a report about this pressing issue impacting our nation. This deeper understanding can provide insights into how stigma manifests and impacts people living with SUD, their loved ones, and their communities.

The following document summarizes recent policies in California aimed at overdose prevention, substance use disorders (SUD), and mental health based on a presentation by Riana King, Principal Consultant with the California Assembly Committee on Health, during the Summer 2024 COPN Convening. The legislative policies are categorized into four main areas: Funding Capacity, Treatment & Access, Harm Reduction & Prevention, and Oversight & Accountability.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing hosted a technical experts’ panel (TEP) to identify best and promising practices to engage individuals surviving overdose and assist individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) presenting in emergency department (ED) settings. This report identifies key policy and practice recommendations informed by existing research, case examples and findings from the TEP.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted an environmental scan to determine how overdose prevention and response efforts are currently implemented in community corrections. This effort included a literature review, 19 key informant interviews and a roundtable discussion with a diverse group of individuals with experience in community corrections, overdose prevention or harm reduction.

This resource guide created by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council) aims to help harm reduction organizations, SUD treatment providers and other organizations that serve PWUD overcome challenges associated with implementing telehealth and technology-assisted services and leverage these advances to help improve the health and wellness of PWUD.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council) created this guide with the purpose of equipping providers with substance use prevention messaging and share guidance on how to effectively deploy this messaging with middle and high school age youth.

The American Psychiatric Association’s website provides a succinct overview of substance use disorder (SUD), how its treated, the 13 priniciples of treatment, how to support a family member or friend, and related conditions.

CDPH has compiled a webpage with resources for young adults (ages 18–25) who may use drugs. The resources explain and understand substance misuse, substance use disorder, how to talk to friends who may be struggling with substance misuse, and how to get help.

The California Department of Public Health has created a video in Spanish that features information on administering naloxone.

The California Department of Public Health has created a video in English that features information on administering naloxone.

The California Department of Public Health has created a webpage in Spanish that features information on fentanyl.

The California Department of Public Health has created a webpage in Spanish that features information on naloxone.

Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and Third Horizon Strategies (THS) launched the Opioid Abatement Needs and Investment (OANI) tool. This interactive resource, developed with support from the Elevance Health Foundation, aims to assist local, municipal and state level leaders working to address the opioid epidemic in their communities. The tool provides geographic-specific information on the potential need for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and recovery services and the locality’s capacity to meet that demand. The 1.0 version of the tool uses publicly available data at the county and state level and enables users to investigate a county’s potential need for OUD treatment and recovery capacity across the Healthy People 2030 Social Determinant of Health Domains.

On July 21, 2021, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the final settlement agreements with prescription opioid manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen (the Janssen and Distributors, or J&D Settlement) that will provide substantial funds for the abatement of the opioid epidemic in California. This document is intended to provide guidance for California’s cities and counties (Participating Subdivisions, listed in Appendix 1 of the California Janssen and Distributors Agreements) that receive funds from the J&D settlements. Allowable expenditures must include activities tied to the ending, reduction or lessening the effects of the opioid epidemic in communities and include prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.

The Partnership to End Addiction has created multiple resources for parents or caregivers on how to show acceptance, support for LGBTQ+ youth who have substance use disorders..

This brief from 2022 provides information on substance use and suicide risk among LGBTQ youth and provides recommendations based on the data on how to support LGBTQ youth.

SAMHSA compiled a list of resources for individuals and providers that includes national survey reports, agency and federal initiatives, and related behavioral health resources.

The California Youth Opioid Response (YOR California) is pleased to announce 43 grant awards for the third round of State Opioid Response (SOR) funding of $12 million, subsequent to a statewide RFA process, and over 70 applications.

YOR California seeks to strengthen capacity and access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services, as well as access points to Medication-Assisted Treatment, for youth (ages 12-24) and their families. This opportunity is also designed to foster the creation, coordination and strengthening of local level multi-system networks and to encourage the development of new partnerships between agencies that touch youth.

YOR California is a joint effort by the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions and Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. and funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Community Services Division, Federal Grants Branch that supports funding community-based organizations throughout California, whose efforts spanning the continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services for youth.

This campaign was created by the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness. It is an example of how a community has developed an awareness campaign discussing fentanyl, how to access naloxone and how and where to find local treatment options.