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Many people with opioid use disorders embrace medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or medication-assisted recovery (MAR) as a pathway to recovery. For some, the role that medication can play in a person’s long-term recovery process is not as clear. Within the recovery community, many people have questions about the use of agonist or partial agonist medications (methadone, buprenorphine) to support abstinence. As we continue to grapple with the effects of the opioid crisis, it is important to recognize the life-saving role of medications to address opioid dependence and addiction, understand the facts about how medications work, and find ways to support long-term recovery for individuals using these medications.

As one key recovery support, access to quality recovery housing can make or break a person’s likelihood of long-term success. Specific to opioid use disorders, recovery residence operators need guidance to implement cultural and operational changes that support medication-assisted recovery. While different levels of recovery residences have varying structures, staffing, services, and supports, the information and considerations in this brief are helpful to all residences seeking to support medication-assisted pathways to recovery. Currently, there is no definitive research that matches the level of a recovery residence with its ability to support residents using medication in their recovery.

This document provides basic guidance, key considerations, and tips and tools for recovery residence operators that are supporting or want to support individuals who choose medication-assisted recovery.

Article published by NPR in June 2023 written by Aneri Pattani. Useful to review in order to find out who is controlling opioid settlement cash in your state.

The purpose of this introductory training is to provide HIV clinicians (including, but not limited to physicians, dentists, nurses, and other allied health professionals, therapists and social workers, and counselors, specialists, and case managers) with an overview of the opioid epidemic and HIV.

Heroin, Prescription Opioids, and HIV PowerPoint Presentation

Heroin, Prescription Opioids, and HIV Trainer Guide

Heroin, Prescription Opioids, and HIV Fact Sheet**

Authors Kirill Staklo (he/him) and Nze Okoronta (they/them) provide an overview of the necessary information for the integration of Peer Specialists in hotline programming for equity and sustainability. Topics include intro to the peer role, medical trauma and minority stress, hotline work, informed consent and harm reduction, best practices in service establishment and training, and further resources.

At the Greather Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), every adult patient who comes through the Emergency Department (ED) is screened for substance use via a series of questions asked by the ED nurse. The questions are about the patient’s drug and/or alcohol use and are standardized for every patient. Our electronic medical record, called “Epic,” calculates a score based upon the responses and, if the score is positive, it will trigger a visual alert to the ED team caring for the patient (a nurse and an ED physician). Epic also triggers a notification to the peer recovery coaches – recovering alcohol or drug users who have been extensively trained by Mosaic Community Services and embedded in the ED – to make them aware that a patient with a positive score is in the ED. A peer recovery coach meets with every patient whose scores are positive and talks with him or her to obtain additional information. They can provide each patient with an early intervention and offer resources as appropriate. The coaches have standardized questions they ask these patients, which are later documented in Epic, so the rest of the care team is able to view the answers and come up with the best treatment plan for that patient. The coaches utilize Epic for follow-up appointments and will continue to meet with and support the patients, even after discharge. If necessary, they will also assist in setting up outpatient treatment and services.

This webinar explains how many people begin to misuse both legal and illegal drugs including the impact of childhood trauma, the effects of substances on brain chemistry and how changes to brain chemistry can impact an individual’s behavior, and barriers to treatment for people with SUD. The presenter demonstrates how police officers, other first responders, and medical, behavioral health, and human services staff can contribute to, and more effectively support, long-term recovery and other positive outcomes for individual’s affected by opioids, stimulants, and other substances.

The following toolkit was developed in partnership by the Mid-America Addiction
Technology Transfer Center, the Institute for Human Development, and the
Opioid Response Network, all housed at the University of Missouri – Kansas
City.
This toolkit is the result of a regional roundtable discussion that brought together
professionals from the substance use disorder (SUD) services field and the
intellectual/developmental disabilities services field. Through the roundtable
professionals shared ideas and identified gaps in communication and services
for people living with both a substance use disorder and an intellectual and
developmental disability. We hope this toolkit provides resources and tools to
serve individuals living at this intersection in your community.
Contact Brooke Fischer at fischerba@umkc.edu with questions or additions to

Researchers at Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS), conducted a survey of US-based Peer Support Specialists from May 18, 2020-June 22, 2020 in order to assess the impact of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 on the peer support workforce, including job tasks, challenges and supports.

Changes in outcomes between a one-year baseline and one-year outcome period were examined for Access To Recovery (ATR) recipients relative to statistically matched clients of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The ATR program provides support services to promote recovery from substance use disorders (SUD). In analyses of SUD treatment use, employment and arrest rates, ATR and non-ATR clients were subdivided into those who received SUD treatment during the baseline year and those who did not, in order to assess whether outcomes differed according to recent receipt of SUD treatment. Analyses of medical utilization focused on comparing rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for matched ATR and comparison group members enrolled in Medicaid or other publicly funded medical programs for at least three months in the baseline and outcome years.

The rise in drug overdose deaths in the United States necessitates novel approaches to reduce harms. In response, peer recovery support services for substance use disorder have been implemented in clinical and community settings in several states. This descriptive analysis aimed to describe the implementation of hospital-based peer recovery support services for substance use disorder. This study describes peer recovery support services for substance use disorder delivered in emergency departments and inpatient settings. Evidence of improved patient outcomes is needed prior to widespread adoption.

In this Ask the Expert Series from National Council for Mental Wellbeing, attendees heard from experts and seasoned CCBHC organizations about options to establish successful peer-run/recovery community organization partnerships with fidelity to both the peer-run and CCBHC models.

Attendees heard from experts and seasoned CCBHC organizations about options to establish successful peer-run/recovery community organization partnerships with fidelity to both the peer-run and CCBHC models.

Expert Facilitators: Harvey Rosenthal, executive director of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), and Tom Hill, senior advisor with the National Council, will be joined during this session by CCBHC Spotlighted Providers, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services (N.Y.) and the Center for Health Care Services (Texas).

Topics Included: CCBHCs will have the opportunity to consider best-practice recommendations for exploring partnership arrangements delivering peer-support services.

This document is a collaborative project between the VISN 1 New England MIRECC Peer Education Center, and the VISN 4 MIRECC Peer Resource Center focused on Implementing Peer Support Services in VHA.