NIH launches harm reduction research network to prevent overdose fatalities (features UNR)

To address the overdose crisis in the United States, the NIH has established a research network that will test harm reduction strategies in different community settings to inform efforts to help save lives. The harm reduction research network’s efforts build on existing harm reduction research, and represent the largest pool of funding from NIH to date to study harm reduction strategies to address overdose deaths.

Funded by the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative, through NIDA, the awards are expected to total approximately $36 million over five years, pending the availability of funds.

The new harm reduction research network will include nine research projects and one coordinating center. The project representing the IDeA jurisdictions is:

University of NEVADA-Reno: Testing ways to identify and support “overdose responders” (people who use drugs who respond to overdoses in their peers), to better understand barriers to naloxone use and increase long-term use of naloxone among people who use drugs.