RTI Researchers Offer In-Depth Look at HEALing Communities Study in Special Journal Issue

The collection of papers includes the main study protocol and detailed descriptions of the scientific approaches being used

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Researchers at RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, have contributed to a special edition of Drug and Alcohol Dependence that features 10 papers detailing the ambitious HEALing Communities Study, an effort funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths by 40% in 67 communities across Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio.

“In this landmark study, NIH, SAMHSA, four academic centers, community leaders, coalitions and organizations, and RTI are working to increase the adoption of evidence-based strategies for reducing opioid-related overdoses in highly-affected communities,” said Emmanuel Oga, M.D., MPH., a senior epidemiologist and one of the three project leads from RTI. “This collection of papers includes significant contributions from RTI experts and aims to describe the vision, rationale and scientific approach underpinning the study.”

Launched in 2019 as part of the NIH’s HEAL initiative, the HEALing Communities Study is testing a comprehensive community-engaged intervention in select communities hard hit by the opioid crisis.

As the Data Coordinating Center, RTI leverages its expertise in communication, data management, data science and analysis, community engagement, implementation science and health economic research to support this critical study.

To view the special issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, visit: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/drug-and-alcohol-dependence/special-issue/10B0L1KKVKK.