Trending News

Harm Reduction – Core Concept, Real-Life Implications, and HIV+ Vampires
Friday, December 13, 2024
This article explains that while abstinence is the ideal outcome, it is not always realistic or achievable for individuals struggling with addiction. Harm reduction strategies, such as naloxone distribution, medication-assisted treatment, and syringe service programs, aim to keep people alive and empower them to make safer choices on their own terms. The article also presents a real-life example of applying harm reduction principles to a unique situation involving a client who identifies as a "vampire." By focusing on education and empowerment, the article provides information on how harm reduction can be used to build trust, respect, and positive relationships with individuals who may be engaging in high-risk behaviors.
https://ofrtools.org/Content/Documents/Articles/2024HarmReductionNewsletterArticleFinal.pdf?f=true

The Inaugural Youth Summit: Embracing the Youth Experience
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The inaugural OAYI Youth Summit: Embracing the Youth Experience was a 2-day event held in Orlando, Florida, which brought together young leaders, professionals, and community advocates to address the opioid, stimulant, and substance use crisis affecting young people and their families. The summit focused on the intersection of substance use and mental health, promoting trauma-informed care, and empowering youth through leadership development and advocacy. Participants engaged in youth-led sessions, workshops, and panel discussions to share their experiences, build collaborative connections, and develop action plans for addressing substance use issues in their communities. The summit aimed to amplify the voices of youth, provide them with essential skills for leadership and advocacy, and create a platform for their active involvement in shaping solutions and driving social change.
https://ofrtools.org/Content/Documents/Articles/2024YouthSummitNewsletterArticleFinal.pdf?f=true

Teens, Drugs, and Overdose: Contrasting Pre-Pandemic and Current Trends
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
This issue brief analyzes CDC WONDER data – including provisional data from 2023 – and data from national surveys of adolescent youth to highlight trends in substance use and overdose deaths. It explores how and where teenagers receive substance use information and treatment and how school settings can be leveraged to enhance prevention measures. Lastly, it examines federal and state prevention efforts and social media’s role in the drug crisis.
https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/teens-drugs-and-overdose-contrasting-pre-pandemic-and-current-trends/

Grantee Highlight Videos: Recognizing the Impact of OAYI-awarded Project Sites
Monday, October 14, 2024
Join us in recognizing the significant contributions of project sites funded through the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative—Morgan County Partnership, Pinellas County, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation—in improving the lives of the opioid-affected youth and families in their communities. These highlight videos provide a snapshot of how these impactful initiatives have demonstrated true dedication to building community capacity and enhancing well-being through innovative programs and collaborative efforts. Their work has not only addressed pressing local challenges related to the effects of the opioid epidemic and other emerging substance use but have also set benchmarks for effective practices in substance use prevention, intervention, and treatment.
https://iirinc.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/JPHIFileCloud/EirdR-eIHcZAjyaXzVjjI4wBIkJ6vWWv-Ci4Zv38MDSpMw?e=TQAbQJ

Deflection Strategies to Meet People Where They Are and Reduce Harms Associated with Substance Use Disorders
Friday, August 30, 2024
Deflection has emerged as a key intervention for first responders and law enforcement agencies to steer individuals with mental health or substance use issues away from arrest and prosecution. Many deflection programs are taking their efforts a step further by incorporating harm minimization strategies, which aim to minimize the negative consequences associated with various behaviors. Learn what one officer in the Westfield, Massachusetts, Police Department has done to foster outreach to overdose survivors.
https://www.cossup.org/Content/Documents/Articles/CHJ-TASC_Deflection_Strategies_to_Reduce_SUD_Harms_Aug2024.pdf

What are Substance Use Disorders?
Sunday, August 25, 2024
This module provides an overview of how to diagnose a substance use disorder and a discussion of the neurobiology of addiction.
https://www.cossup.org/ResourceLibrary/Details/c3dbfbb4-5406-4c9e-a096-8514124f62c4

Next-of-Kin Implementation Checklist
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
This document is a companion document to Next-of-Kin Interviews: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation and includes checklists for the agency employing the NOK interviewer as well as for the NOK interviewer.
https://www.cossup.org/Content/Documents/OFR/NextofKin/NOKImplementationChecklist/NextofKinImplementationChecklist.pdf

Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
This report provides key findings from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on substance use, mental health, and treatment among the noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged 12 or older. Estimates are presented by age group and by race/ethnicity for selected measures.
https://store.samhsa.gov/product/results-2023-nsduh/pep24-07-021

Latest Trending News