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Substance Use Harm Reduction

Journal Article
Trends in Out-of-Pocket Costs for Naloxone by Drug Brand and Payer in the US, 2010–2018
The findings suggest that the out-of-pocket cost of naloxone has been an increasingly substantial barrier to naloxone access for uninsured patients, a population that constitutes nearly one-fifth of adults with opioid use disorder.
Oct 27, 2022
Journal Article
A National Retrospective Study of Antidepressants' Effects on Overdose and Self-Harm Among Adults Treated With Opioid Analgesics
Individuals with a history of depression who received opioid analgesics had a significantly lower risk for overdose and self-harm after they had been taking antidepressants for at least 6 weeks.
Oct 19, 2022
Journal Article
Changes in Buprenorphine and Methadone Supplies in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This cross-sectional study found that the per capita supply of methadone declined significantly in the second quarter of 2020 and had not returned to 2019 levels as of June 2021. The per capita supply of buprenorphine increased during the same period.
Sep 30, 2022
Blog
Diversity in the Military, Telemedicine Abortion, China and Taiwan: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the benefits of increasing and maintaining diversity in the armed forces, the challenges of telemedicine abortion, whether Indo-Pacific countries are backing China or Taiwan, and more.
Aug 26, 2022
News Release
Out-of-Pocket Cost of Naloxone May Keep Many Uninsured from Using Lifesaving Treatment
The cost of buying the opioid antidote naloxone is out of reach for many uninsured Americans, a hurdle that may keep the treatment from saving more people who overdose on opioids.
Aug 19, 2022
Report
What Policy Changes Could Help Save Lives from Illicit Synthetic Opioids Overdose?
In this recording of a July 2022 virtual event, experts discuss findings from the final report by the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, and recommendations to reduce the number of lives lost to illicit synthetic opioids.
Aug 18, 2022
Journal Article
Legal Review of State Emergency Medical Services Policies and Protocols for Naloxone Administration
We provide data on the authority of providers at different emergency medical services licensure levels to administer naloxone. We also describe relevant policies regarding which administration routes and dosages are permitted for each licensure level.
Aug 2, 2022
Blog
How Data Can Help Refugees, Homelessness in L.A., Harm Reduction: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on tapping into Facebook data to help refugees, addressing homelessness in Los Angeles, understanding burnout among health care providers, and more.
May 6, 2022
Commentary
Fentanyl Makes an Already Dangerous Drug Market Deadlier Than Ever
Failure to recognize and respond to how rapidly illegal drug markets have changed with the arrival of illegally manufactured synthetic opioids will continue to put many Americans at risk of exposure to fentanyl, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands more for years to come.
May 2, 2022
Commentary
A Greater Focus On Harm Reduction Will Save Lives
For decades, elected officials brushed off harm reduction as a viable option for reducing the harms of drug use over concerns of enabling drug consumption. But now, these strategies are front and center, spoken aloud, from the largest podium in the land, and during prime time. What caused this historic about-face?
Apr 29, 2022
Journal Article
Subsequent Buprenorphine Treatment Following Emergency Physician Buprenorphine Prescription Fills: A National Assessment 2019 to 2020
This study examined the rates of subsequent buprenorphine treatment for buprenorphine-naïve individuals filling buprenorphine prescriptions from emergency physicians and initiated buprenorphine treatment and how such rates varied before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mar 23, 2022
News Release
Most People Who Receive Medication in Emergency Departments to Treat Opioid Use Disorder Do Not Sustain the Treatment
Most people who fill prescriptions from emergency physicians to treat their opioid use disorder do not continue to receive the medication, suggesting new approaches are needed to help people continue drug treatment begun on an emergency basis.
Mar 21, 2022
Commentary
A New and More Dangerous Drug Market Requires a New Approach
Synthetic opioids are likely to increasingly reach illegal drug markets. Failure to recognize and respond to how rapidly drug markets have changed with the arrival of illegally manufactured synthetic opioids will continue to put many at risk of exposure to fentanyl, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands more Americans for years to come.
Mar 16, 2022
Report
The Nexus Between Sex Trafficking and Substance Use
Substance use disorders are common among sex trafficking victims. Drugs or alcohol may be used to lure, coerce, or control them, and they may use substances to cope with trauma. This creates barriers to accessing treatment, support services, and assistance from criminal justice agencies.
Feb 24, 2022
Journal Article
Study on Smoke-Free Environments and Advertising of Tobacco and Related Products: Final Report
This report presents the results of the external study on smoke-free environments, and advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and related products.
Dec 15, 2021
Blog
'GDP2,' RAND President and CEO to Retire, Quantum Technology: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on why we should measure ‘GDP2,’ an announcement from RAND president and CEO Michael D. Rich, a look at quantum technology, and more.
Oct 29, 2021
Commentary
Treating Supervised Drug Consumption Sites Like Cannabis
Some communities hard hit by the opioid crisis are interested in opening supervised consumption sites—places where people who use drugs can do so under supervision of trained staff. What could be done to make it easier to pilot and evaluate these sites in the United States?
Oct 22, 2021
Tool
How to Integrate Pharmacotherapy for Substance Use Disorders at Your Mental Health Clinic: A Step-By-Step Guide for Screening and Treating Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Alcohol and/or Opioid Use Disorders with Pharmacotherapy in Mental Health Clinics
RAND researchers provide a toolkit to support the delivery of effective, evidence-based pharmacotherapy for clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and simplify care implementation in mental health clinics.
Jul 8, 2021
Tool
Medication Management of Co-Occurring Opioid Use Disorder in Mental Health Settings: A Guide for Practitioners
Researchers and clinicians provide a guide for identifying clients with co-occurring opioid use and mental health disorders in mental health settings and treating these clients with an appropriate opioid use disorder medication.
Jul 8, 2021
News Release
Most Prescriptions for Opioid Addiction Medication Buprenorphine Are Written by a Small Number of Providers
Half of all patient-months of buprenorphine treatment during 2016 and 2017 were prescribed by just 4.9% of the physicians and other providers who prescribed the drug during the period.
Jun 1, 2021

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