Latest Updates

HHS Secretary Becerra announced a new overdose prevention strategy on October 27th. The new overdose prevention strategy is designed to increase access to the full range of care and services for individuals and their families who are affected by substance use. The strategy prioritizes four key target areas: primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support. It also recognizes the need for …

On behalf of the Statewide Overdose Safety (SOS) Workgroup and partners, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is releasing an action notice for providers. This action notice details best practices to consider and offers supportive resources to use when inheriting patients on opioid therapy due to facility closures and other causes. This action notice is signed …

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) released a focused update to the National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in 2020. The updated guideline is intended to inform and empower clinicians, health system administrators, criminal justice system administrators, and policymakers who are interested in implementing evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for individuals with …

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in partnership with Aurrera Health Group, has recently released the Substance Use Disorder Licensing and Certification Toolkit. DHCS collaborated with Aurrera Health Group to design this toolkit with the goal of offering new and existing SUD Outpatient and Residential providers an overview and helpful tips.

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is committed to preventing overdose deaths in communities throughout California. As we remember the 8,682 Californians lost to overdose in 2020, we wanted to provide resources available to prevent overdose deaths throughout the state. If you think you’re at risk of an overdose or can help someone who …

DHCS is releasing a funding opportunity to solicit responses from California county or city behavioral health agencies, or joint applications of city or county behavioral health agencies to support and expand behavioral health mobile crisis and non-crisis services through the Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) Program. DHCS is offering two separate tracks of funding. Applicants …

The Peer Workforce Investment (PWI) Request for Applications (RFA) was released on June 3, 2021, to expand behavioral health peer-run programs. Grants will be awarded to: Expand peer-run behavioral health program staffing and capacity to assist people; Elevate the profile of behavioral health peer-run programs with other entities in their communities and statewide through outreach …

This funding opportunity is part of the California MAT Access Points Project. The MAT Access Points Project funds organizations throughout California to address opioid and stimulant use disorder by supporting and expanding prevention, education, stigma reduction, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services. This opportunity will support prevention and treatment programs addressing stimulant use in communities …

On April 27th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new buprenorphine practice guidelines, which include the decision to allow any physician with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license to treat up to 30 in-state patients with buprenorphine. Currently, doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners must complete a training and receive a …

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) have finished installing approximately 250 safe medication disposal bins (med bins) across California, expanding the network of med bins for the public to use for free. These efforts are part of the California Drug Take-Back Program, which provides med bins for the safe …