Papers
We believe that clear, actionable information can save lives. Our Clarify section aims to provide our users with ample materials, resources and tools to both understand the scope of the crisis and to take the informed actions necessary to stop it in its tracks. We are collecting and cataloging the work of activists, educators, organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to combat the Opioid Crisis to support all of us in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. Here, we will continue to gather and promote the very best of their work. Our resources page provides fast, easy access to a broad range of the best tools we can find including fact sheets, articles, videos, guides, curricula and more, and link the user directly to the source. Each item is summarized and tagged by category, audience, topic and title, allowing users to sort based on their needs and interests. Although very much a work in process, there are currently more than 50 items featured in this section.
Drug Overdose Deaths Among Persons Aged 10–19 Years — United States, July 2019–December 2021
"U.S. drug overdose deaths increased 30% from 2019 to 2020 and 15% in 2021, resulting in an estimated 108,000 deaths in 2021.* Among persons aged 14–18 years, overdose deaths increased 94% from 2019 to 2020 and 20% from 2020 to 2021 (1), although illicit drug use declined overall among surveyed middle and high school students during 2019–2020 (2)"
Source
State
National
Category
Data, Research
Subject
Data, Deaths of Children and Adolescents, Deaths
Letter from President Biden to Schools
Sites resources including a paper from the National Institute on Drug abuse last updated 2003. Provides a few links to other resources that are more helpful and substantial. Addresses need for schools to have an emergency plan, train staff and stock Naloxone.
Source
State
District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
Category
Correspondence and Letters
Subject
White House Letter to Schools
New Drugs, Old Misery: The Challenge of Fentanyl, Meth, and Other Synthetic Drugs | Manhattan Institute
Synthetic Drugs pose unique challenges to traditional "Four Pillar" approach to drug policy. This paper addresses and makes recommendations related to the four pillars: Law Enforcement, Treatment, Harm Reduction and Prevention and beyond.
Source
State
New York
Category
Policy Research and Recommendations
Subject
White Paper; Policy
Aug 28, 2020
|
Nonfatal Drug and Polydrug Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments — 29 States, 2018–2019
Nonfatal overdoses from 2018-2019; 21 states are missing. Not all states/hospitals test for Fentanyl. During this time, very few did. Most still do not.
Only 5% of Overdose Patients Tested for Fentanyl, #1 Killer of Americans 18-45
Epic Research and UMD CESAR collaborated on this study and found a lack of testing for Fentanyl in cases of overdose Nationwide. The implication is that we have no way of knowing how many overdoses and subsequent injuries or deaths were attributable to Fentanyl overdoses or poisoning.
Source
State
Maryland
Category
Study/Research Paper
Subject
Testing for Fentanyl when overdose is suspected or confirmed
Opioid Overdose Data FAQ | dphhs
Testing and record keeping about Fentanyl involvement in overdoses and deaths is inconsistent and insufficient. Only 6% of deaths in Montana receive autopsies, doctors and EMTs do not always test for Fentanyl nor do they always notate when it has been reported.
Source
State
Montana
Category
FAQ
Subject
Testing for Fentanyl when overdose is suspected or confirmed
Oregon Health Authority| Oregon Department of Education - Fentanyl & Opioid Response Toolkit for Schools
"This toolkit provides information about how schools may create an emergency protocol to administer Naloxone, also known as Narcan. The toolkit includes information on how to access, administer and store this life-saving opioid overdose prevention medication. In addition, this toolkit has resources to support staff training, prevention education, and other resources essential to developing and implementing school emergency response procedures."
Source
Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education
State
Oregon
Category
Toolkit
Subject
Response, Harm Reduction, Education, Prevention
Mar 30, 2023
|
Overdose Prevention Framework
Four priorities are named: Supporting primary prevention, Encouraging harm reduction, Advancing development of evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and Protecting the public from unapproved, diverted, or counterfeit drugs presenting overdose risks. Only periphial mention of educating the public.
Preventing Child Deaths in Missouri; Annual Report
Pages 49-51 Address an alarming increase in deaths in children related to Fentanyl with exponential increases year over year from 2020-2022.
Source
State
Missouri
Category
Data, Research
Subject
Data, Deaths, Deaths of Children and Adolescents
Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts
Data sets demonstrating more than 112,000 American lives were lost to opioids, predominantly related to Fentanyl from May 2022 to May 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 37 percent increase compared with the 12-month period ending in May 2020.
Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
"U.S. drug overdose deaths increased 30% from 2019 to 2020 and 15% in 2021, resulting in an estimated 108,000 deaths in 2021.* Among persons aged 14–18 years, overdose deaths increased 94% from 2019 to 2020 and 20% from 2020 to 2021 (1), although illicit drug use declined overall among surveyed middle and high school students during 2019–2020 (2)"
Social Media, Fentanyl, & Illegal Drug Sales: A Report from the Colorado Department of Law
Includes: Background on Fentanyl, and Its Impacts on Public Health and Public Safety, Overview of the Online Illicit Drug Ecosystem, Analysis of Platform Policies and Practices Applicable to Illicit Substance Transactions, Review of Applicable Federal and State Laws that Impact the Sale of Illicit Substances
Online, Recommended Actions for Addressing Illicit Substance Sales Online
Source
State
Colorado
Category
White Papers and Reports
Subject
Social Media, Fentanyl and Illegal Drug Sales