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Substance Use Harm Reduction

Report

What Policy Changes Could Help Save Lives from Illicit Synthetic Opioids Overdose?

In this recording of a July 2022 virtual event, experts discuss the findings from the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking Final Report, and recommendations to reduce 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
Research Brief

Use of Tobacco Products Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness

As many as 70 percent of young people experiencing homelessness smoke cigarettes, and most use other tobacco products such as little cigars/cigarillos, e-cigarettes, and hookahs. What programs might help them quit?

May 5, 2021
Commentary

Australia Contained COVID-19 Early On. Can It Do the Same with Synthetic Opioids?

Australia is at risk of a fentanyl problem, but it is better prepared than North America. If the country can make the same kind of concerted effort it did to keep COVID-19 at bay, that could save thousands of lives.

Apr 30, 2021
Journal Article

Knowledge of Alternative Tobacco Products in Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

This study examined perceptions of factors that influence use and non-use of Alternative Tobacco Products (ATPs) among unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness.

Apr 30, 2021
Journal Article

Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of a Text Messaging-Based Intervention for Smoking Cessation Among Young People Experiencing Homelessness

This is the first study to evaluate the feasibility of using a text messaging-based intervention (TMI) for behavior change with 18–25 year olds experiencing homelessness, and the first to test a TMI to provide ongoing support for smoking cessation.

Apr 28, 2021
Multimedia

RAND Remote: High Stakes, Fostering Innovation to Stem the Tide of America's Drug Problems

In this RAND Remote presentation, Beau Kilmer discusses how RAND is identifying and evaluating innovative approaches to tackle some of America's most pressing drug problems and help strengthen and safeguard communities.

Jan 28, 2021

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