NIH and SAMHSA publish article discussing new study to reduce opioid overdose deaths

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently published an article in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal highlighting the upcoming HEALing Communities Study. The goal of the study is to reduce opioid overdose deaths by 40% in 3 years across highly impacted communities. The study will attempt to accomplish this by testing the impact of a community-based, data-driven approach to implementing a set of evidence-based practices to address opioid misuse, treat opioid use disorder (OUD), and prevent overdose deaths. Due to the emergence of COVID-19, the study will also examine the intersection of the pandemic and the opioid crisis in rural and urban communities.