News

In our recent listening session, "Helping the Helper," a panel of experts gathered to peel back the mask of professionalism. They explored why those on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and suicide prevention are fueling the "Great Resignation." The consensus was clear: what we often dismiss as "burnout" is actually a complex landscape of secondary trauma, moral injury, and functional distress. To sustain our workforce, we must move beyond surface-level self-care and address the systemic architecture that silences those who are "leading while bleeding."

Starting Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) in Nevada can feel complex, but it doesn’t have to be. This toolkit provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap to help prescribers navigate requirements, establish services, and become ready to prescribe medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) with confidence. 

The landscape of the United States illicit drug market is shifting with terrifying speed. For several years, public health officials have struggled to contain the “fourth wave” of the opioid crisis, characterized by the adulteration of fentanyl with the veterinary sedative xylazine, commonly known as “tranq.” However, just as harm reduction strategies began to adapt to xylazine, a more potent and dangerous additive has emerged: medetomidine.

As communities mark National Fentanyl Awareness Day today, April 29, experts from the School of Public Health and the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) are raising awareness about how fentanyl is reshaping the drug supply in Nevada and what can be done to prevent overdose.

A statewide survey is now open to gather community input on Nevada's opioid response. We encourage community members, providers, and partners to participate and help shape efforts across the state.