This page contains resources to be used in the Cornell Cooperative Extension system and in the community more broadly. They are all approved by CCE Administration for educational purposes and dissemination. The intent of these resources is to spread awareness of this public health issue, reduce stigma towards people who are impacted by the opioid epidemic, and prevent the spread of misinformation. To view the references for these resources, please click here: Deliverable Master Source List. These sources are valuable if you would like to learn more about a specific topic mentioned. If there is a topic relevant to the opioid epidemic that you would like to see resources for, please contact Rose at rei9@cornell.edu.
Cornell Project 2Gen_Opioid Project Work Team Briefs_Warning Signs_02-12-20
Description: Is Someone I Know Misusing Opioids? Warning Signs and Next Steps – This fact sheet details potential physical and behavioral signs that an individual is misusing opioids. If you notice these signs in someone you know, there are helplines and websites with tips for reaching out to them and connecting them to treatment, if appropriate.
Cornell Project 2Gen_Opioid Project Work Team Briefs_Stigma Reduction_02-12-20
Description: Supporting the Community and Reducing Stigma – A significant barrier to the well-being of people who use drugs is the stigma they face from others. This fact sheet spreads awareness about the health realities of opioid use disorder (OUD) and how we can talk about and to people who use drugs in a compassionate and supportive way.
Cornell Project 2Gen_Opioid Project Work Team Briefs_Safely Taking, Storing, and Disposing_02-12-20
Description: Safely Taking, Storing, and Disposing of Prescription Opioids – A significant portion of opioid misuse includes prescription opioids. This fact sheet outlines ways to reduce the chance that you or someone you know begins to misuse prescription opioids through safer ways to take, store, and dispose of these prescriptions.
Opioid Epidemic Overview Fact Sheet 12.2019 (PDF)
Description: Opioid Epidemic Overview – This fact sheet is an overview of the situation our country and state is facing with the opioid epidemic: it outlines the type of drugs that are encompassed by the term ‘opioids’, individual and community factors that increase the risk of opioid misuse, an overview of addiction and the how/why of people misuse opioids, as well as some general steps CCE staff can take in their daily work to support people impacted by this issue. This sheet is meant primarily to be viewed and used by CCE staff to become informed on the issue, however you are welcome to share the information you learn with CCE program participants and your community.
Safe-Syringe-Disposal-Fact-Sheet-12.2019 (PDF)
Description: Safe Disposal of Syringes – This fact sheet is intended primarily to be distributed to program participants or other community members. It details how individuals can safely dispose of needles or syringes that may have been used to inject opioids, to protect their health and the health of others. This sheet was inspired by a survey response that pointed out that sometimes farmworkers find used syringes in their fields or in the woods. That being said, this is an educational resource for a situation that anyone could encounter.
Narcan-fact-sheet-12.2019 (PDF)
Description: Preventing a Fatal Opioid Overdose – This fact sheet details prevention of an opioid overdose. Unfortunately, even a small amount of an opioid, especially if it is laced with the highly potent substance fentanyl, can cause an individual to overdose. The sheet discusses how to identify if someone is overdosing, and the appropriate steps to take to help the person. Fortunately, there is a prescription medicine that has been scientifically proven to safely reverse an overdose and thus save lives. This medicine is called Narcan, and it is also known as Naloxone. The prescription is available in both a nasal spray and an injectable form, and it can be obtained without a prescription at many pharmacies in NY. Of course, it is likely that Narcan will not be available at the immediate setting of an overdose, but a bystander can still provide support to the person overdosing by obtaining medical attention. This sheet is intended to be viewed by both CCE staff and program participants/community members to spread awareness and prevent the spread of misinformation. The last sheet available as of now details prevention of an opioid overdose.
Research Directory Sheet1 (PDF)
This Researcher and Practice Directory is a compilation of the various Cornell researchers and CCE practitioners who are involved in work directly or indirectly related to opioids, including mental health, parenting education, and youth development. The directory is organized by topic and provides descriptions of each person including their contact information and relevant articles, if applicable. We hope this will be useful for finding people who are working on areas you are interested in to ask questions of or collaborate with.
More to come soon! Stay tuned.