Provides information and recommendations on safe and effective methods for acute pain management for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare providers to promote safe opioid prescribing and decrease the number of veterans who develop opioid use disorder (OUD). Covers the Stepped Care model to manage acute pain including opioid use risks, opioid free and non-pharmacological approaches for pain management, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Describes the uses and dangers of fentanyl and carfentanil, which are both extremely potent synthetic opioids. Includes methods for reducing opioid use and overdoses, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and naloxone distribution.

Describes potential short- and long- term risks of marijuana use and how using marijuana can negatively affect attention, memory, reaction time, mental health, and organ health and function. Explains how the combination of marijuana and opioids and/or benzodiazepines can result in drowsiness, difficulty driving or operating machinery, and increased risk of overdose.

Provides information on methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone and how they are used to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Covers the signs of an overdose and answers questions about each medication.

Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program. Focuses on reducing opioid overdoses and deaths among veterans through education and training for prevention, recognition, rescue response, and naloxone kit use. Includes OEND videos and materials for providers and patients.

Provides a collection of pain-related instructional items cataloged by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) Academic Detailing Service (ADS). Helps providers assist patients with pain management by providing tools, resources, guides, and other informational materials on topics such as pain, opioid safety, headaches, opioid use disorder (OUD), opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution, and suicide.

Describes the two types of pain: acute and chronic. Discusses pain management strategies and treatments, including non-medication treatments, non-opioid medication treatments, and opioids.

Provides instructions for the safe disposal of unwanted and unneeded medications to prevent substance misuse and accidental poisonings. Includes safety tips to keep drugs away from children and pets, ensure proper medication storage, and proper medication disposal. Takes back unused and expired medications and publishes bulletins and alerts with recent news related to medication safety.

Provides access to education materials advocating for evidence-based treatments to help providers improve the health of veterans. Offers provider and patient education tools and outreach resources to encourage evidence-based decision making for a variety of medical conditions and diseases, including opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorders (SUDs), pain, suicide, dementia, depression, HIV, PTSD, and more.