Evaluating the impact of emergency medical services on overdose prevention and health equity.
Official title: Assessing the Population-level and Equity Impact of the Emergency Medical Services Overdose Prevention Project (EMS-OPP) Using Critical Race Theory
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10911336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how emergency medical services in King County, WA, can better help people who have drug overdoses by working with those who use drugs and community partners to create supportive programs and training for EMS providers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $824,876 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059011-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who use drugs and are at risk of overdose, particularly from marginalized racial and ethnic communities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use drugs or are not at risk of overdose may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how emergency medical services (EMS) can improve care for individuals affected by drug overdoses in King County, WA. By collaborating with people who use drugs and community partners, the project aims to develop and implement interventions that reduce stigma and enhance access to medical services. The EMS Overdose Prevention Project (EMS-OPP) includes training EMS providers in trauma-informed care and establishing programs for naloxone distribution and follow-up care. The effectiveness of these interventions will be assessed to understand their impact on health outcomes and racial disparities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced disparities in access to care for individuals affected by drug overdoses.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using EMS interventions to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations, indicating the potential effectiveness of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Draanen, Jenna — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Van Draanen, Jenna
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.