Substance Use Programs

While effective treatment can lead to long-term remission, nearly 80% of individuals with SUD do not receive care, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Barriers to treatment include stigma, fragmented care systems and limited access to evidence-based interventions.

Addressing substance use disorders requires tackling multiple systemic challenges, including:

• Limited access to health and behavioral health care services
• Inaccessible SUD treatment programs due to financial and geographic barriers
• Prescribing practices that may contribute to opioid dependency
• Social determinants of health, such as homelessness, unemployment and poverty

Missouri’s substance use crisis demands a coordinated, public health-driven approach that expands community resources and improves access to timely, evidence-based care.

Missouri Initiatives to Address Substance Use Disorders

Several statewide initiatives are working to improve access to integrated prevention, treatment and recovery support services. Key efforts include:

• Multidisciplinary training for providers and community members on opioid overdose prevention and naloxone distribution
• Increased patient access to pharmacotherapies, such as buprenorphine, through enhanced clinician education
• SUD treatment engagement programs to improve early intervention and sustained recovery
• Patient care navigation services that support safe and timely transitions between levels of care

By strengthening hospital-based programs and collaborating with community partners, Missouri’s health care system can play a pivotal role in reducing substance use disorders and improving long-term health outcomes.

Missouri hospitals play a key role in ensuring responsible opioid prescribing to prevent misuse and support effective pain management. To guide hospital-based physicians, a coalition of health care policy and advocacy organizations has developed opioid prescribing recommendations that reflect evolving best practices and changes in state and federal laws.

CDC Opioid Prescribing Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  has issued guidelines for prescribing opioid medications for chronic pain, excluding cancer, palliative and end-of-life care. These recommendations help providers:

• Assess risks and benefits of opioid therapy
• Set clear treatment goals to ensure patient safety
• Use non-opioid and non-pharmacologic therapies when possible

By following state and national prescribing guidelines, Missouri hospitals can reduce opioid dependency and improve patient and community safety.

View the Guidelines

Vaping and electronic nicotine use have surged in recent years, particularly among youth, raising serious public health concerns. MHA provides guidance and resources to promote policies, prevention efforts, and treatment options amid rising cases of smoking and vaping-related illnesses.

Policy Guides

Supporting Smoke-Free Policies in Missouri Hospitals

Hospitals play a vital role in promoting public health and reducing tobacco-related harm. Implementing smoke-free policies helps create healthier environments for patients, staff and visitors.

National Efforts to Strengthen Smoke-Free Policies

The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation highlights the ongoing impact of secondhand smoke exposure and the need for stronger smoke-free policies nationwide. Missouri is specifically noted due to its lack of workplace protections for employees in casino settings.

The foundation provides sample smoke-free policies for various settings, along with guidance on enforcement strategies, to help organizations implement effective tobacco-free policies that protect workers and patrons.

By adopting comprehensive smoke-free policies, Missouri hospitals can lead efforts to reduce tobacco-related illnesses and promote long-term health improvements.

View Sample Policies