Substance Use Disorders Resources
MedlinePlus
Substance Abuse Problems is a MedlinePlus category with a wide range of health topics such as:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA is the lead federal agency supporting scientific research on drug use and its consequences. Learn the facts about the most commonly used drugs. Each drug page includes a brief overview, street and clinical names, the effects of the drug on the brain and body, statistics and trends, and relevant publications and articles written by NIDA researchers and scientists. Learn about stigma and why words matter when talking about addiction. Information for parents and educators is also available.
NIH Heal Initiative
The Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative, is an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. Almost every NIH Institute and Center is accelerating research to address this public health emergency from all angles. The initiative is funding hundreds of projects nationwide.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism advances research on drinking and alcohol's impact on health. The Alcohol's Effects on Health tab includes information about specific alcohol topics, getting help, and intervention.
Get Smart about Drugs
Get Smart About Drugs is a United States Government, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website with resources for parents, educators, & caregivers for identifying recreational and illegal drugs.
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
SAMHSA provides extensive information for health professionals but also for libraries and the public. Take the time to tour the website to locate information for your patrons and communities. Free handouts can be downloaded and ordered and social media tools are available. Treatment locators, directories, and more. Consider signing up for their newsletter (sign-up is located at the bottom of the home webpage).
Drug Disposal Information
U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration: Drug Disposal Information
Some of the information on this webpage may not be applicable to libraries but links to dispose of unused medications is listed.
Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
Resource from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on how to dispose of unused or expired drugs.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
In April and October every year, the U.S. Department of Justice reminds us to dispose properly of all unused prescriptions on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
Google Maps
Google Maps has an enhanced feature to help you locate a drop-off site. Here's how to use it:
- On a computer, phone, or another device, visit google.com/maps.
- Type "drug disposal near me" in the search bar.
Additional Resources
NNLM Substance Use Disorders Guide: This NNLM guide is a more comprehensive list of resources and information.
Public Libraries Respond to the Opioid Crisis with Their Communities is a project of OCLC and PLA with resources for public libraries including news, webinars, and publications about opioid use in libraries.
Not Just Narcan: America’s opioid crisis forces U.S. public libraries to take a proactive approach to reduce stigma and harm Library Journal, May 2019
How Naloxone Saves Lives in Opioid Overdose Naloxone saves lives. This video from the National Library of Medicine reviews when naloxone is used, how it is administered, and the way it works. Also in Spanish: Cómo la naloxona salva vidas por sobredosis de opioids.
Recorded NNLM Webinar
NNLM hosted a webinar session focusing on the opioid crisis in October, 2020.