Guides and Manuals

This new consumer guide offers people with past or current problematic substance use a straightforward exploration of the roles, values, and work environments of professional peer specialists. This guide is a comprehensive resource that will help readers understand who professional peer specialists are, what they do in various work settings, and how to access and pay for their services.

This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) provides guidance to counselors, administrators, and supervisors about recovery-oriented services, supports, and care, allowing them to better serve individuals in or seeking recovery from problematic substance use.

This field manual offers mental health and public health professionals information on disaster preparedness and recovery to assist disaster survivors. It describes survivor reactions, at-risk populations, counseling, referrals, and stress prevention and management.

This manual helps mental health professionals build an emergency preparedness program in response to mass violence and terrorism. It includes background information, key concepts in mental health intervention, and guidance for setting up a training course.

This manual guides disaster response workers in assisting survivors of mass violence and terrorism and their families. It discusses basic counseling skills, when to refer to mental health services, populations with special needs, and stress prevention and management for workers.

This guide enhances cultural competence when serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It covers regional differences, cultural customs, spirituality, communication styles, the role of veterans and older adults, and health disparities.

This resource gives a brief overview on conducting a suicide assessment using a five-step evaluation and triage plan. The five-step plan involves identifying risk factors and protective factors, conducting a suicide inquiry, determining risk level and interventions, and documenting a treatment plan. Suicide Safe mobile app based on the SAFE-T is available on the app stores. Download SAMHSA's Suicide Safe mobile app on your mobile device.

This manual explains peer recovery support services designed and delivered by people in recovery from substance use disorders. It discusses types of peer support for recovery, the adaptability and value of peer recovery support services, and cross-cutting core principles.

This manual lays the groundwork for community-based suicide prevention and mental health promotion plans for American Indian and Alaska Native teens and young adults. It addresses risks, protective factors and awareness, and describes prevention models for action.

This manual guides counselors in the use of medications to help clients achieve abstinence from alcohol. It describes how the medications work and whom may benefit. It also presents the side effects of three FDA-approved medications: acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.