Provider Resources

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Last updated 11/25/2024.

The Overdose Surveillance and Response (OSAR) program monitors and responds to substance use and abuse, including partnerships with providers to provide education, guidelines, and resources.

On this page:

• CA Bridge
• Practice Guidelines
• Resources, Toolkits, and Trainings

CA Bridge

CA Bridge, a program of the Public Health Institute, saves lives by enabling people who use drugs to access medication for opioid use disorder in emergency departments (EDs) throughout California.

• Since April 2019, CA Bridge has worked with EDs across California to scale up low-threshold buprenorphine access, patient navigation programs, harm reduction services, and take-home naloxone.
• Between April 2019 and June 2023, 268 (81.0%) of 331 acute care hospitals in California received funding and technical assistance from CA Bridge.
• Resources:
  • Buprenorphine Quick Start Protocols
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Substance Use Navigator Support
  • Publications

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Practice Guidelines

• The 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain guides clinicians to work together with patients to make informed, patient-centered decisions about pain care.
  • The guideline includes 12 recommendations for clinicians providing pain care for outpatients aged 18 years or older with acute pain, subacute pain, or chronic pain.
  • This guideline provides recommendations only. It does not replace clinical judgment and individualized, patient-centered decision-making.
  • See 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline at a Glance for more information.

• The Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA) Practice Guide 2023 released by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a resource for individuals working to end the opioid crisis. 
  • This guide is particularly designed for individuals at the front lines of the opioid response and features a menu of evidence-based practices for reducing opioid overdose deaths and real-world tips for implementing these practices.

• Engaging Community Coalition to Decrease Opioid Overdose Deaths Practice Guide 2023, also released by SAMHSA, was developed in recognition of the need to center community engagement when addressing the opioid overdose crisis.

• Clinical Considerations for Engagement and Retention of Non-Abstinent Patients in Substance Use Treatment was developed to support treatment program providers, and to increase treatment engagement and retention, while addressing the complexities associated with patient non-abstinence. 
  • This resource was created by the American Society of Addicition Medicine and funded by the California Department of Health Care Services.

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Resources, Toolkits, and Trainings

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
  • Health Care Provider Toolkits, including training and information about addiction medicine, naloxone, and clinical practice guidelines.
  • Health Care Provider Trainings to assist clinicians, and other healthcare personnel, to provide patient-centered care.
  • Clinical Care and Treatment to assist in managing pain and diagnosing and treating substance use disorders.
• Innovations and Smart Approaches in Safe Prescribing: A series of free, online courses for medical providers (including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistances, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, and others).
  • A partnership between the County of San Diego Public Health Services, Champions for Health, and The Doctor’s Company.
  • Participants can obtain continuing medical education (CME) credit upon completion:
    • Module 1: Eliminating Stigma through Clinical Understanding
    • Module 2: Alternatives to Opioids for Pain
    • Module 3: Safe Prescribing of Opioids and CNS Depressants
    • Module 4: Recognition, Diagnosis, and Treatment of SUD
    • Module 5:  Eliminating Stigma through Clinical Understanding for Pharmacists
    • Module 6: Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES)
• National Clinician Consultation Center Substance Use Warmline: (855) 300-3595
  • Free and confidential clinician-to-clinician telephone consultation focused on substance use evaluation and management for primary care clinicians.
  • Consultation is available Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET. Voicemail is available 24 hours a day.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):
  • Health Professions Education to enhance your practice and teach others about addiction.
  • CME and continuing education (CE) activities to relevant courses related to opioid and substance use disorders and addiction.

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Contact the Overdose Surveillance and Response program via email at PHS.OSAR.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov, or call the Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499, for more information.