National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – NIDA is the lead federal agency supporting scientific research on drug use and its consequences. Their website is a warehouse for scientific research articles, multimedia and overdose prevention resources.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – The CDC is committed to an approach that protects the public’s health and prevents opioid overdose deaths. Their website contains data, overdose prevention education and resources for patients and providers to help combat the opioid epidemic.
PreventMedAbuse – PreventMedAbuse is a CADCA initiative that focuses on creating community change to address the opioid epidemic. Their website has a toolkit for community action, facts and tools and other available resources.
Generation Rx – “My Generation Rx” includes resources designed to educate teens about the importance of using medications safely, as well as teaching teens key skills to turn down invitations to misuse and positive alternatives to cope with the demands of life. These materials could be delivered in formal classroom settings, after-school programming, youth organization meetings, or any other venue with teen audiences.
GA Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative – The GA Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative is dedicated to helping Georgians prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. The website contains educational materials, advocacy information, safe storage and secure disposal resources and enforcement information.
Partnership to End Addiction – Partnership to End Addiction provides personalized support and resources for families impacted by addiction, while mobilizing policymakers, researchers and health care professionals to more effectively address addiction systemically on a national scale. Their website provides a wealth of information on prescription pain relievers (opioids), preventing misuse, understanding the risks and more.
WebMD – WebMD’s Pill Identifier allows users to enter the shape, color or imprint of your prescription or OTC drug, and it will display a picture that you can compare to your pill to help identify what it is. This may be helpful for parents who find unknown pills in their home or teen’s possession.
Stop Medicine Abuse – The prevention campaign StopMedicineAbuse.org and its Five Moms initiative is working to alert parents and members of the community about the problem of teen abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM). Their website contains information on what DXM is, what abuse looks like and how medicine abuse can be prevented, as well as several helpful tools to take action.
Pact 360 – The Parents360 Rx Action Toolkit can be used by professionals from law enforcement, prevention and treatment, as well as by any concerned adults who want to share information about medicine abuse with their friends, family, neighbors and organizations to which they belong. The toolkit consists of a video, a discussion guide and a small number of documents, and is available to individuals and organizations at no charge.
DEA Take Back Day – The DEA’s Take Back Day events, held twice a year in April and October, provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths by safely disposing of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs.
International Overdose Awareness Day – International Overdose Awareness Day is an initiative of Penington Institute that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. It is also an opportunity to stimulate discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
*If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid or prescription pain medication misuse or abuse, please see our Treatment Referral page for resources.