Agency Action Plan to Address Substance Use
Substance use is a complex problem with devastating and lasting effects across the lifespan. It strains our families, it ravages our communities, and threatens the well-being of our entire state. While opioids are still cause for concern, trends on the use of methamphetamines, marijuana, other illicit drugs, and alcohol cannot be ignored.
As the state agency entrusted with improving the health, safety, and well-being of Texas, DSHS is committed to addressing substance use.
A 3-year DSHS action plan to address substance use in Texas was launched in 2020. The plan was coordinated by the Community Health Improvement Division and developed in collaboration with partners and stakeholders. Implementation has been a tremendous success and progress continues as a part of DSHS programming.
The plan describes actions in three key public health focus areas.
- Surveillance — enhancing data collection, analysis, and dissemination on substance use.
- Education — empowering medical professionals, public health staff, and the general public with knowledge on substance use.
- Resource Development — developing helpful resources for the general public, communities, and medical professionals.
Action Plan
Accessible Action Plan
Looking for substance use information, treatment, services or resources?
- Mental Health and Substance Use Services (HHSC)
- Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Other Resources Across Texas - Texas Targeted Opioid Response
Opioid Use Disorder Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Information - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Find Treatment - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Alcohol Treatment Navigator - Heroes Helpline
Referral and Recovery Support for Texas First Responders - National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Resources for Parents and Educators - Fighting Fentanyl (HHS)
Health Education Design
Creating a new platform for sharing knowledge in ways that inspire is also part of the DSHS agency action plan to address substance use.
Health Education Design (HED) aims to do that with the help of Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) talks. TED talks share knowledge about topics that matter. TED talks transform thinking and teach important life lessons in powerful and profound ways.
While the plan was to launch a TED-like HED talk series with ideas built to inspire, the challenges of COVID-19 call for an alternative approach. That’s where TED talks come in. DSHS invites you to watch, listen, and learn. Each one of these TED talks shares important ideas about improving health, beginning with the topic of substance use.
Ending the Opioid Crisis
Dr. Jennifer Potter | TEDxSanAntonio
Shaming the Sick: Substance Use and Stigma
Dr. Carolyn Greer | TEDxFortWayne
In the Opioid Crisis, Here's What It Takes to Save a Life
Jan Rader | TEDWomen 2018
Continuing Education Related to Substance Use
DSHS compiled a list of continuing education (CE) and continuing medical education (CME) for health professionals. Health professionals can use these resources to find continuing education related to substance use.
DSHS Continuing Education provides CME, nursing education (CNE), and pharmacy education (CPE) as well as other health professionals such as counselors, social workers, and psychologists.
Texas Health Steps provides CE accredited courses and tutorials for physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacist, dentists, and other health professionals.
- The Texas Medical Board | Substance Use CME
- Texas Medical Association
- American Medical Association | Substance Use CME
- American Academy of Family Physicians | Substance Use CME
- American College of Physicians | Substance Use CME
- American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
- American Society of Addiction Medicine
- American Osteopathic Association
- American Academy of Pain Medicine
- American College of Academic Addiction Medicine
- American Psychiatric Association | Substance Use CME
- Medscape
- Texas Prescription Monitoring Program
- Texas Pharmacy Association
- Texas Pain Society
- CDC Training and Continuing Education Online | Substance Use CE
- CDC Addiction Medicine Toolkit
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- American Dental Association | Substance Use CE
- Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions
- The Association for Addiction Professionals
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners | Substance Use CE
- American Public Health Association
- American Psychological Association
- Hazelden
- First Responder Workforce
- Center for Substance Use Training and Telementoring
- Texas Nurses Association
- American Nurses Association
- Texas State Board of Pharmacy
- Texas Board of Nursing
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- Texas Ophthalmological Association
- Texas Opioid Training Initiative
- UT Health - San Antonio
- University of Texas – School of Pharmacy
- UT Health Houston – School of Dentistry
Additional Substance Use Resources for Health Professionals
- Texas Opioid Training Initiative – Clinical Resources
- NIDAMED: Clinical Resources
- NIDAMED: Screening Tools and Prevention
- NIDAMED: Words Matter
- NIDAMED: Resources for Professional Discipline and Specialty
- Factsheet - Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Medications and Occupational Safety and Health: Information for Employers and Healthcare Providers
- Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network (PeriPan)
- Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN)