SAMHSA publishes Spanish-language toolkit to prevent opioid overdose

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has published a Spanish-language version of its Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit. The toolkit, which was recently published in English, is designed for health care providers, communities and local governments. The toolkit provides strategies to prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid overdose caused over 42,000 deaths in 2016. The opioids involved in overdoses include heroin as well as prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl. The Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit presents strategies that could prevent many of those deaths, including availability of overdose reversal medication and access to substance use disorder treatment.

In addition to strategies, the toolkit provides information on resources communities can use to get help with overdose prevention. SAMHSA’s National Helpline, at 1-800-662-4357, provides referrals for people seeking treatment at any time of day or night. The toolkit also contains links to SAMHSA’s online Treatment Practitioner Locator and other agencies working on prevention.

The Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit is available in English and in Spanish.

Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.

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