This resource created by COAST Ventura County is in both English and Spanish and is an example of a disclaimer that can be used when distributing fentanyl test strips to the public. This disclaimer highlights that individuals using FTS should understand that the results may not be perfectly accurate, that the strips are a tool for lifesaving overdose prevention, and that distribution aligns with all legal compliance, etc. This example can be used for other communities and organizations looking to implement a similar disclaimer.

How does stigma contribute to addiction and overdose deaths? To raise awareness, Shatterproof created the Addiction Stigma Index, the largest survey of public attitudes about substance use disorder (SUD) and people with SUD in the United States. The results provide insights into how stigma manifests and impacts people living with SUD, their loved ones, and their communities.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education created a template to be used for other overdose prevention coalitions to use for outlining the overdose crisis locally, their coalition's history, achievements, and ways for new members to get involved. This fact sheet can serve as an effective tool for communication and engagement with the community, coalition partners, and local decision-makers.

The Trinity Overdose Safety Coalition have provided their updated coalition charter to serve as an example for other overdose prevention coalitions. The charter provides coalition members with a formal operating structure and information needed to better understand the coalition’s overall purpose.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education recently introduced a newsletter for their coalition an community members that focuses on highlighting partner achievements, showcasing the positive work being done by their coalition members like law enforcement, treatment centers, and youth groups in the county. This newsletter can be an example to be an adopted for your overdose prevention coalition.

Given the diversity of the El Dorado Coalition on Overdose Prevention and Education, developed a collaborative agreement. This is essential to ensure that every voice is heard and provides unity in their mission to save lives, despite differing opinions. This document can be used as an example to be adopted for your overdose prevention coalition.

The El Dorado Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education (COPE) developed a comprehensive one-sheet fact sheet outlining the overdose crisis in El Dorado County, the coalition's history, achievements, and ways for new members to get involved. This fact sheet can be used as an example for your overdose prevention coalition and can serve as an effective tool for communication and engagement.

The SLO Opioid Safety Coalition created this organization structure info sheet for the community and members of their coalition. The info sheet provides a brief overview of the history and what the coalition is, the vision and mission statement, the coalition objectives and strategies, and the current membership. This resource can be used as an example to be adapted for your overdose prevention coalition.

The Trinity Opioid Safety Coalition created this new member welcome packet to provide the new coalition members with what the coalition is, the “why” behind the coalition’s efforts in a way to establish a common identity and purpose among members. This new member packet can be used an an example and be adapted for your overdose prevention coalition.

The San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Opioid Safety Coalition created a coalition member commitment form to establish a partnership agreement and foster better collaboration among coalition members. This form can be used an an example and be adapted for your overdose prevention coalition.

Drug overdoses have affected all communities across the United States. Yet there are notable racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged over the past 25 years, even though people of all races and ethnicities use drugs at similar rates. Racism, lack of access to treatment and services, targeted drug enforcement, and stigma are some of the most common factors contributing to these tragic losses in our communities. DPA has developed three new fact sheets that describe overdose death trends among Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. They also provide policy recommendations and strategies for how our elected officials can save lives. 

Drug overdoses have affected all communities across the United States. Yet there are notable racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged over the past 25 years, even though people of all races and ethnicities use drugs at similar rates. Racism, lack of access to treatment and services, targeted drug enforcement, and stigma are some of the most common factors contributing to these tragic losses in our communities. DPA has developed three new fact sheets that describe overdose death trends among Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. They also provide policy recommendations and strategies for how our elected officials can save lives. 

Drug overdoses have affected all communities across the United States. Yet there are notable racial and ethnic disparities that have emerged over the past 25 years, even though people of all races and ethnicities use drugs at similar rates. Racism, lack of access to treatment and services, targeted drug enforcement, and stigma are some of the most common factors contributing to these tragic losses in our communities. DPA has developed three new fact sheets that describe overdose death trends among Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. They also provide policy recommendations and strategies for how our elected officials can save lives. 

The Drug Policy Alliance’s newest video resource is focused on dispelling myths surrounding fentanyl and features, Dr. Goodman-Meza an expert on the intersection of infectious diseases and addiction. He knows better than most how crucial it is for us to approach drug use and the overdose crisis with solutions based in health and science.

ChangeLab Solutions has developed guides that offer a range of evidence-based policy strategies and a roadmap to policy implementation that can advance equity and prioritize care over punishment for people who use drugs. The strategies are intended to support state and local decision makers, government agency staff, public health practitioners, and community members in considering policies to prevent overdose and reduce other drug-related harm in their communities.

A flyer for the The New Drug Talk Connect to Protect on how to talk to kids about fentanyl. It is a two-sided flyer, with one side in English and the other Spanish.

This toolkit provides you with content to amplify the New Drug Talk message and includes: resources to share on social media, messaging guidelines, and draft email outreach.

What steps can communities take to incorporate health equity in overdose prevention? The following summary provides concrete examples of thoughtful approaches to applying health equity in overdose prevention at the local level to address rising rates of overdose. Case studies were drawn from overdose prevention coalitions participating in the California Overdose Prevention Network (COPN) Accelerator 4.0 Program. These can serve as models for other coalitions and organizations across the country.

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association developed the 2023 State of the State, which guides state leaders on the most effective approaches to addressing the opioid and other drug epidemic by identifying 10 evidence-based policy approaches to reduce overdoses. Each of the 10 strategies outlined in the Roadmap points to a specific type of policy that states can implement to reduce overdose deaths and increase access to substance use treatment.

The National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program has developed the Prevention Intervention Resource Center (PIRC). PIRC serves as a repository for publicly available resources for HIDTA communities to advance their evidence-based prevention programming. They have free curriculum available that includes: Sharing Substance-Related Information with Youth 11-18: Integrating the Best Available Evidence to Prevent Unintended Harm, Developing a Communications Plan, Developing Messaging Messaging through Mass Media, and so much more.