HEALing Communities Study

The opioid epidemic, and associated opioid-related overdose deaths, has been an ongoing public health crisis. Numerous evidence-based practices have been proven to prevent or reverse opioid overdose, but these strategies are severely underutilized due to multiple barriers. To address this gap, NIH launched the HEALing Communities Study, a four-year, multisite research study to test a set of evidence-based interventions for reducing overdose deaths across health care, criminal justice, and behavioral health settings.  The study took place in 67 communities across four states that have been hard hit by the opioid crisis: Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. As part of the intervention, researchers collaborated with community coalitions to implement evidence-based practices for reducing opioid overdose deaths from The Opioid-overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA). These evidence-based practices focus on increasing opioid education and naloxone distribution, enhancing access to medication for opioid use disorder, and safer opioid prescribing and dispensing. The intervention also included a series of communication campaigns to help reduce stigma and increase the demand for evidence-based practices.

The HEALing Communities Study was supported and carried out in partnership between the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative. T. John Winhusen, UC professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience and director of the UC College of Medicine Center for Addiction Research has served as the co-principal investigator for the state of Ohio with Dr. Bridget Freisthler, Ohio State University. UC, Ohio State and Case Western coordinated the research study in collaboration with the 18 Ohio counties. Dr. Winhusen led the national team that developed the Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA). ORCCA is being disseminated by NIH/NIDA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; links to ORCCA materials are provided below:

Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA) Practice Guide 2023 (samhsa.gov)

Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (usrfiles.com) Guide for Policymakers

Ask the Expert: What is Naloxone? (youtube.com)

Ask the Expert: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (youtube.com)