News

The Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence (NOCE) is here to connect Nevada communities with free, evidence-informed education, training, and resources to address the opioid crisis. Our Summer 2025 Newsletter highlights upcoming events, new resources, and ways to get involved in overdose prevention and recovery support.

As temperatures across the West continue to rise, extreme heat has become more than a seasonal inconvenience—it’s a growing public health crisis. In Nevada, people without access to stable housing or cooling resources face serious health risks during heat waves. Substance use, certain medications, and chronic health conditions can also increase vulnerability. Understanding who’s most at risk—and how to stay safe—is critical as our summers grow longer and hotter.

Synthetic cannabinoids like SPICE and K2 continue to appear in emergency departments and behavioral health conversations across Nevada. This post provides an overview of what these substances are, how they differ from opioids and cannabis, and why they present ongoing risks. It’s also intended to help parents, caregivers, and community members better understand the dangers of these substances and how to respond in an emergency.

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are reshaping behavioral health care in Nevada by building trust, expanding access, and strengthening support for individuals affected by opioid use disorder. Las Vegas-based advocate Alisa Howard highlights how CHWs use lived experience and community connection to enhance care and improve outcomes across the state.

Nevada continues to face the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, with rising overdose rates, increasing co-occurring mental health challenges, and significant health disparities across communities. The Nevada Opioid Needs Assessment and Statewide Plan identifies Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—such as trauma, neglect, or family instability—as major risk factors for substance use, opioid use disorder (OUD), and overdose.

Pregnant and postpartum people affected by substance use disorders face significant barriers to care—and doulas are often on the front lines of support. This blog post explores the growing need for substance use-informed training for birth workers and introduces a new four-part virtual series designed to equip doulas and other professionals with trauma-informed, practical tools.