This document discusses efforts by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to address prescription drug and opioid abuse through cross-system collaboration. SAMHSA supports prescriber and consumer education, prescription drug monitoring programs, and safe disposal of unused medicines. Specific SAMHSA programs mentioned include Partnerships for Success grants, prescription drug monitoring program grants, and screening and brief intervention programs. The document also outlines funding for medication assisted treatment, preventing opioid overdose deaths, and a strategic prevention framework for prescription drugs.

1. Cross-System Collaboration
to Address Rx Drug Misuse
and Abuse
Frances M. Harding
Director
SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
National Rx Drug Abuse Summit
April 8, 2015

2. 2
National Rx Drug Abuse
Prevention Strategy
Prescriber and consumer
education/awareness
53 percent of people 12 and
older using prescription pain
relievers non-medically got
them from a friend or relative
for free
Expanded and enhanced use of
prescription drug monitoring
programs
Education/awareness about safe
disposal of unused medicines

3. 3
SAMHSA’s Rx Drug/Opioid Abuse
Prevention Efforts
 Partnerships for Success grants
 Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program grants
 Federal Drug-Free Workplace
Program
 Not Worth the Risk, Even If It’s
Legal (pamphlet series)
 Prescriber Education
 PCSS-Opioids and PCSS-MAT
 Screening, Brief Intervention, and
Referral to Treatment – SBIRT
 Drug Free Communities
ONDCP FY 2015 enacted -
$93.5M; FY 2016 proposed -
$85.7M
 Substance Abuse Block Grant
 Opioid Overdose Prevention
Toolkit
 SAMHSA/CDC Prescription Drug
Abuse Prevention Campaign
 National Prescription Drug Abuse
Summit

4. 4
Addressing Rx and Opioid Abuse (1)
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for
Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction:
$25 M ($13 M ↑ in substance abuse treatment)
• Within the Targeted Capacity Expansion—General Program
• Grants to states to focus on high risk communities to
address opioid use disorders
• Improve access to MAT services for individuals with opioid
use disorders

5. 5
Addressing Rx and Opioid Abuse (2)
Preventing Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths: $12 M (New
in substance abuse prevention)
• Grants to 10 states to reduce # of opioid overdose-related deaths
• Help states purchase naloxone not otherwise covered
• Equip first responders in high-risk communities
• Support education on use of naloxone and other overdose death
prevention strategies
• Cover expenses incurred from dissemination efforts

6. 6
Addressing Rx and Opioid Abuse (3)
Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs
(SPF-Rx): $10 M (New in substance abuse prevention)
• Raise public awareness about dangers of sharing medications
• Work with pharmaceutical and medical communities to raise
awareness on risks of overprescribing
• Develop capacity and expertise in use of data from state
prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to identify
communities by geography and high-risk populations