SAMHSA releases updated Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the update of an important resource on opioid overdose prevention. The SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit offers information and facts from literature and links to resources to prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Because interdisciplinary collaboration is critical to success, SAMHSA offers theToolkit as an educational resource for community members, first responders, prescribers, patients, and families.

The SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit is divided into four sections—one for each target audience:

Facts for Community Members

Facts about opioids and opioid-related overdoses
Information about who is at risk
Strategies to prevent overdose deaths

Five Essential Steps for First Responders

Recommended actions to reduce the number of deaths resulting from opioid overdoses
Dos and Don’ts when responding to an opioid overdose

Information for Prescribers

Recommendations to consider when prescribing opioids for adults with chronic pain
Information on billing codes for providing overdose prevention education and for prescribing naloxone
Explanation of how to treat an overdose
Resources to determine legal and liability considerations

Safety Advice for Patients & Family Members

Information about preventing overdose and what to do when an overdose is suspected
Explanation of naloxone, how to use it, and how to store it
Resources for overdose survivors and family members and information on finding a support network