Enhancing SUD Treatment with Overdose Prevention: A Zero Overdose Approach

This month marks a significant milestone as SAMHSA celebrates the 1st national Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Month. Through this initiative, SAMHSA aims to highlight and enhance access to vital resources, ensuring individuals receive the support, treatment, and care they need.

According to 2023 NSDUH data, among the 39.6 million adults aged 18 or older in 2023 who had an SUD in the past year 94.7% (or 36.7 million people) did not seek treatment or think they should get it. Sadly, this is in part due to ongoing stigma, keeping people from accessing the SUD treatment that could save their lives—as providers, we can make a difference! We must break the stigma and spread awareness that treatment works, and recovery is possible.

At Zero Overdose, we align our efforts with this mission; focusing particularly on Week 2's theme of Reducing Stigma by integrating overdose prevention into substance use disorder treatment.

We know that substance use disorders inherently increase the risk of overdose, a critical concern during treatment. With SAMHSA spotlighting the need for comprehensive support and care, it's crucial to recognize that effective SUD treatment must include proactive overdose prevention measures, such as overdose risk screening and safety planning. These efforts are essential for safeguarding individuals through their recovery journey, significantly reducing the risks associated with substance misuse and potential unintentional overdose events and deaths.

At Zero Overdose we advocate for consistent overdose risk screening, especially among those at higher risk for overdose, as well as implementing targeted initiatives that seamlessly integrate overdose prevention into the fabric of SUD treatment:

• Overdose Safety Planning?: Embedded within treatment protocols, these personalized overdose safety plans are crucial in preemptively addressing potential overdose risks.
• Professional Training and Technical Assistance: We provide comprehensive training and technical assistance on overdose prevention for healthcare professionals, ensuring they are equipped to implement these lifesaving strategies effectively.

These programs exemplify our commitment to enhancing treatment outcomes and align with SAMHSA's focus on connecting people to the support they need. The first national Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month is a call to action for integrating comprehensive care and prevention strategies into SUD treatment.

By embracing these approaches, we can significantly enhance patient safety and treatment effectiveness. We invite providers, policymakers, and community leaders to visit SAMHSA's dedicated resource page at https://www.samhsa.gov/observances/treatmentmonth and engage with Zero Overdose to integrate these life-saving strategies into their services. Together, we can ensure that every individual receives the comprehensive care they deserve.

For more information about Zero Overdose, please visit:?https://zerooverdose.org

For more information about upcoming specialist training and safety planning, please visit: https://zerooverdose.org/services/

If you would like to donate to help save lives, please visit:?https://zerooverdose.org/give-now/

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