Priority strategies for opioid abatement in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board has selected eight priority strategies for Oklahoma cities, counties, and school districts to use that maximize the impact of opioid abatement dollars in their communities. These strategies fall within Oklahoma's approved uses of opioid abatement settlement funds as well as national requirements.

Related: Guidance for Oklahoma communities' use of opioid settlement funds

Healthy Minds created a series of short guidance documents about each priority strategy. Communities can use these when planning and applying for opioid abatement grants.

The documents explains the evidence for each strategy for opioid abatement, guidance for selecting a population of focus, considerations for implementation, and additional reading and resources.
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Contingency management

Contingency management is a substance use disorder treatment approach that rewards clients for treatment and recovery-oriented behaviors like negative drug screening results, adherence to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and attendance and engagement in group therapy. Contingency management is primarily known for its effectiveness in treating stimulant use disorder, but evidence has also found it effective in promoting treatment adherence and recovery among individuals with opioid use disorder.
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Family skills training

Family skills trainings are programs that can shape youth behavior and create stronger family relationships, reducing the risk of youth substance use, including opioids. These types of programs can help parents develop healthy problem-solving and monitoring skills, increase children’s sense of emotional support, and promote open family communication — all skills that play an important role in preventing youth opioid use.
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Integrated care

Integrated care models combine physical health care with mental health and substance use care, emphasizing collaboration among a multidisciplinary team. Through integrated care, patients have better access to coordinated, best-practice substance use and mental health interventions in a general health care setting.
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Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD)

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the front-line approach for treatment of people with opioid use disorder. About 2.5 million people in the U.S. have opioid use disorder, but only 1 in 5 receive MOUD, an evidence-based approach that uses FDA-approved medications often in combination with comprehensive support services like medical care, mental health treatment, addiction counseling, and recovery support.
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Naloxone distribution

Naloxone is a safe, highly effective medication used to reverse opioid overdoses and save lives. It works by blocking the effects of opioids to quickly restore breathing to someone who is overdosing.
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School-based prevention

School-based prevention involves coordinated, evidence-based strategies delivered at schools to prevent or reduce the risk of developing problem behaviors — such as substance use, risky sexual behavior, or aggressive and disruptive behaviors — while promoting protective factors that promote student well-being, health and academic success. Successful school-based prevention requires commitment from school leaders, dedicated curriculum time, and proper training for the staff or partners delivering the program.
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Supported employment

People with substance use disorders can face significant barriers to finding stable employment. Individual Placement and Support, an evidence-based model of supported employment, helps people with behavioral health conditions find and sustain employment at jobs of their choice. Research supports using this model for people with substance use disorder with or without a co-occurring mental health disorder.
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Supported housing

Housing and housing supports are critical parts of a community approach to improve wellbeing for people in treatment or recovery for opioid use disorder. Access to safe and stable housing is important to support people with substance use issues as they start and sustain long-term recovery.