SAFE GC Coalition: NIH to Test Treatments of Opioid Addiction

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are multiple effective evidence-based treatments and programs for opioid use disorder (OUD). Most Americans at risk for or with OUD, however, do not receive appropriate treatment for their disorder. At the same time, opioid overdoses continue to kill thousands of Americans. To better understand how promising and evidence-based strategies and treatments might help more people with OUD, the Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative, will deploy a myriad of implementation science efforts to test the integration of evidence-based interventions in an array of settings.

The HEALing Communities research study will test the integration of prevention, overdose treatment, and medication-based treatment in select communities hard hit by the opioid crisis. This comprehensive treatment model will be tested in a coordinated array of settings, including primary care, emergency departments, and other community settings. Findings will establish best practices for integrating prevention and treatment strategies that can be replicated by communities nationwide. Additionally, the size and scope of research conducted by the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) will be expanded to help address emergent needs presented by the opioid crisis. The CTN will integrate new opioid-related research questions into studies currently underway, expedite new studies in general medical and other settings, and enhance clinical and research training opportunities.

The NIH HEAL Initiative will also work with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to learn if combining behavioral interventions with medication-based treatment for OUD can lead to better results. Some of the behavioral interventions to be studied include mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Researchers will examine whether these behavioral interventions improve adherence to medication-based treatment, improve outcomes, and reduce relapse.

The United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), also known as the Health Department, is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. For more information on the new Overdose Prevention Strategy, visit: www.hhs.gov/overdose-prevention/.

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is conducting an opioid prevention awareness campaign entitled. “Keeping Glen Cove SAFE,” in order to educate and update the community regarding opioid use and its consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about the Opioid Epidemic at www.safeglencove.org.