SAFE Solutions
This tool was designed for communities to freely search a compendium of research, educational materials, innovative approaches, and best practices curated by national subject matter experts to address local challenges pertaining to mental health and substance use disorders.
Note: Some solutions are currently unavailable. The remaining unlinked strategies are under development and will be released at the end of 2022.
Search by OUTCOME









Search by CONTINUUM OF CARE






Strategies
I want to assist my community with: Reducing Injury, Morbidity, and Mortality
Prevention
Prevent First Time Use Through Education
- Main Article: Prevent First Time Use Through Education
- Educate Parents on the Risks of Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs
- Educate Patients on the Risks of Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs
- Expand School-Based Prevention Programs
- Expand and Improve Support for Youth Outreach, Leadership, Prevention, and Education
- Become a Trauma-Informed Community
Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Expand and Enhance Chronic Pain Prevention and Management
- Increase Access to Non-Pharma Therapies
- Expand and Enhance Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
- Improve Prescribing Practices
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
- Improve Professional Training on Opioid Risks and Alternative Pain Management Approaches
Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Expand Prescription Drug Take-back and Disposal Programs
Harm Reduction
Expand Harm Reduction Practices
- Main Article: Expand Hard Reduction Practices
- Increase Access to Needle Exchanges
- Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Expand Number of Safe Injection Sites
- Adopt Harm Reduction Practices in Jails and Prisons
- Improve Screening for Infectious Disease Among Those with SUDs
- Expand Fentanyl Testing Options
- Increase Access to Overdose Reversal Medications
Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Main Article: Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Public Awareness
- Increase Awareness of the Risks of Substance Use and NAS
- Improve Identification and Data Collection on NAS
- Improve Awareness of Treatment, Recovery and Support Services
- Enhance Collaboration among Medical, Behavioral and Social Services for Mothers with SUDs
Treatment
Prioritize SUD Treatment Over Incarceration
Main Article: Shift from Punishment to Treatment Approach for Opioid Users
Reintegration After Release
- Improve Re-Entry After Incarceration for People with MH and SUDs
- Improve Recovery Support for People in the Criminal Justice System
Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Main Article: Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Improve Access to Quality Treatment Programs
- Strengthen Peer Recovery Support Services and Programs
- Improve Links to Treatment for People who Experience Non-Lethal Overdoses or Naloxone Revivals
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Main Article: Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Accelerate the Development of New MAT Approaches
- Expand DNA Testing to Improve Precision MAT Therapies
- Expand the Use of MAT in Correctional Facilities
I want to assist my community with: Resources to Respond
Prevention
Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Increase Access to Non-Pharma Therapies
- Improve Prescribing Practices
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
- Improve Professional Training on Opioid Risks and Alternative Pain Management Approaches
Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Expand Prescription Drug Take-back and Disposal Programs
Harm Reduction
Expand Harm Reduction Practices
- Main Article: Expand Hard Reduction Practices
- Expand Number of Safe Injection Sites
- Improve Screening for Infectious Disease Among Those with SUDs
- Expand Fentanyl Testing Options
- Increase Access to Overdose Reversal Medications
Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Treatment
Shift from Punishment to Treatment Approach for Opioid Users
Main Article: Shift from Punishment to Treatment Approach for Opioid Users
Reintegration After Release
- Improve Re-Entry After Incarceration for People with MH and SUDs
- Improve Recovery Support for People in the Criminal Justice System
Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Main Article: Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Main Article: Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Accelerate the Development of New MAT Approaches
- Expand DNA Testing to Improve Precision MAT Therapies
- Expand the Use of MAT in Correctional Facilities
Recovery
Improve Recovery Supports
Main Article: Improve Recovery Supports
Recovery
- Strengthen Peer Recovery Support Services and Programs
- Improve Recovery Support for People in Criminal Justice System
- Improve Tracking of Recovery Progress
- Improve Recovery Housing and Family Support
- Expand Recovery Schools and Collegiate Recovery Programs
- Enhance Support for Families of People with SUDs
I want to assist my community with: Reducing Stigma
Prevention
Prevent First Time Use Through Education
- Main Article: Prevent First Time Use Through Education
- Educate Parents on the Risks of Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs
- Educate Patients on the Risks of Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs
- Expand School-Based Prevention Programs
- Expand and Improve Support for Youth Outreach, Leadership, Prevention, and Education
Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Expand and Enhance Chronic Pain Prevention and Management
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
- Improve Professional Training on Opioid Risks and Alternative Pain Management Approaches
Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Expand Prescription Drug Take-back and Disposal Programs
Harm Reduction
Expand Harm Reduction Practices
- Main Article: Expand Hard Reduction Practices
- Increase Access to Needle Exchanges
- Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Expand Number of Safe Injection Sites
- Adopt Harm Reduction Practices in Jails and Prisons
- Improve Screening for Infectious Disease Among Those with SUDs
Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Main Article: Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Public Awareness
- Increase Awareness of the Risks of Substance Use and NAS
- Improve Awareness of Treatment, Recovery and Support Services
- Enhance Collaboration among Medical, Behavioral and Social Services for Mothers with SUDs
I want to assist individuals with: Access to Education and Basic Economic Security
I want to assist individuals with: Optimizing Health and Well-Being
Prevention
Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs
- Main Article: Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs
- Expand Positive Recreation Opportunities
- Become a Trauma-Informed Community
- Improve Detection and Treatment of Mental Health Conditions
Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Expand and Enhance Chronic Pain Prevention and Management
- Increase Access to Non-Pharma Therapies
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
- Improve Professional Training on Opioid Risks and Alternative Pain Management Approaches
Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Expand Prescription Drug Take-back and Disposal Programs
Harm Reduction
Expand Harm Reduction Practices
- Main Article: Expand Hard Reduction Practices
- Increase Access to Needle Exchanges
- Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Expand Number of Safe Injection Sites
- Adopt Harm Reduction Practices in Jails and Prisons
- Improve Screening for Infectious Disease Among Those with SUDs
- Expand Fentanyl Testing Options
- Increase Access to Overdose Reversal Medications
Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Main Article: Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Public Awareness
- Increase Awareness of the Risks of Substance Use and NAS
- Improve Identification and Data Collection on NAS
- Improve Awareness of Treatment, Recovery and Support Services
- Enhance Collaboration among Medical, Behavioral and Social Services for Mothers with SUDs
Treatment
Shift from Punishment to Treatment Approach for Opioid Users
Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Main Article: Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
- Improve Access to Quality Treatment Programs
- Strengthen Peer Recovery Support Services and Programs
- Improve Links to Treatment for People who Experience Non-Lethal Overdoses or Naloxone Revivals
Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Main Article: Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Accelerate the Development of New MAT Approaches
- Expand DNA Testing to Improve Precision MAT Therapies
- Expand the Use of MAT in Correctional Facilities
I want to assist individuals with: Creating Strong Social and Community Connections
Prevention
Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs
- Main Article: Improve Protective Factors to Reduce SUDs
- Empower Parents
- Expand Positive Recreation Opportunities
- Become a Trauma-Informed Community
- Improve Job Opportunities for At-Risk Individuals
Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Increase Access to Non-Pharma Therapies
Treatment
Recovery
Improve Recovery Supports
Main Article: Improve Recovery Supports
Recovery
- Strengthen Peer Recovery Support Services and Programs
- Improve Recovery Support for People in Criminal Justice System
- Improve Recovery Housing and Family Support
- Expand Recovery Schools and Collegiate Recovery Programs
- Enhance Support for Families of People with SUDs
- Improve Education, Job Training and Employment for People in Recovery
Prevention
Prevent First Time Use Through Education
- Main Article: Prevent First Time Use Through Education
- Educate Parents on the Risks of Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs
- Educate Patients on the Risks of Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs
- Expand School-Based Prevention Programs
- Expand and Improve Support for Youth Outreach, Leadership, Prevention, and Education
- Become a Trauma-Informed Community
Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Over-Prescription of Prescription Drugs
- Expand and Enhance Chronic Pain Prevention and Management
- Increase Access to Non-Pharma Therapies
- Expand and Enhance Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
- Improve Prescribing Practices
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse
- Improve Professional Training on Opioid Risks and Alternative Pain Management Approaches
Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Main Article: Reduce Criminal Diversion of Prescription Drugs
- Reduce Non-Medical Access to Prescription Drugs
- Expand Prescription Drug Take-Back and Disposal Program
Early Intervention
Harm Reduction
Expand Harm Reduction Practices
- Main Article: Expand Harm Reduction Practices
- Increase Access to Needle Exchanges
- Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Expand Number of Safe Injection Sites
- Adopt Harm Reduction Practices in Jails and Prisons
- Improve Screening for Infectious Disease Among Those with SUDs
- Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
- Increase Access to Overdose Reversal Medications
- Expand Fentanyl Testing Options
Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Main Article: Minimize Substance Use During Pregnancy
Public Awareness
- Increase Awareness of the Risks of Opioid Use & NAS for Mothers with SUDs
- Improve Identification and Data Collection for NAS
- Increase Awareness of Treatment, Recovery, & Support Services
- Enhance Collaboration Among Medical, Behavioral, & Social Services for Mothers with SUDs
Treatment
Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Main Article: Support and Advance Effective Treatment
- Improve and Expand Screening and Testing for Misuse and Dependency
- Improve Access to Quality Treatment Programs
- Strengthen Peer Recovery Support Services and Programs
- Improve Links to Treatment for People who Experience Non-Lethal Overdoses or Naloxone Revivals
- Shift from Punishment to Treatment Approach for Opioid Users
Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Main Article: Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Accelerate the Development of New MAT Approaches
- Expand DNA Testing to Improve Precision MAT Therapies
- Expand the Use of MAT in Correctional Facilities
Recovery
Improve Recovery Supports
Main Article: Improve Recovery Supports
Recovery
- Strengthen Peer Recovery Support Services and Programs
- Improve Recovery Support for People in the Criminal Justice System
- Improve Tracking of Recovery Progress
- Improve Recovery Housing and Family Support
- Expand Recovery Schools and Collegiate Recovery Programs
- Expand Community Support for Families of People with SUDs