Examining how classifying gabapentin as a controlled substance affects its use and overdose rates.
Official title: Impact of state-level gabapentin schedule V controlled substance classification on utilization and fatal overdose
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11118231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how changing the rules about gabapentin, a medication that some people misuse, affects how it's prescribed and the number of overdoses in West Virginia, with the hope of finding ways to make it safer for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $53,523 |
| NIH project number | 1R36DA062854-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have been prescribed gabapentin or are at risk of polysubstance misuse, particularly those in states with recent changes to gabapentin's classification.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use gabapentin or are not involved in substance misuse may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of classifying gabapentin, a medication often misused, as a controlled substance in West Virginia. By comparing prescription patterns and overdose rates before and after this classification, the study aims to understand whether such policies effectively reduce misuse and associated fatalities. The research employs a controlled interrupted time series design, analyzing data from both West Virginia and North Carolina to assess changes in drug utilization and overdose incidents. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to improved prescribing practices and safer medication use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better policies that reduce the risk of gabapentin misuse and overdose, ultimately saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that policy changes regarding controlled substances can impact prescribing patterns and misuse, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gora Combs, Katherine Nicole — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Gora Combs, Katherine Nicole
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
A center for coordinating data related to heart and blood health.
This study is working on a new system to gather and analyze health information about heart and blood disorders, which could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat these conditions, ultimately helping patients like you.
-
Healthy work design and worker well-being
A multi-site program aims to improve the health and well-being of workers by studying how work design affects safety, stress, and quality of life.
-
Unified and fair multimodal learning for autoimmune diseases
A patient-friendly AI approach will combine many kinds of health data to improve diagnosis and personalized care for autoimmune diseases, including lupus.
-
Structural factors linking minimum wage, COVID-19, and community violence
A long-term study will explore whether higher minimum wages and pandemic-related economic factors are connected to changes in violence in US communities.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
How HPV interacts with our cells' DNA damage system and its effect on cancer
This project looks at how high-risk HPV uses the body’s DNA repair machinery to replicate and potentially drive cancer, with the goal of finding new antiviral and cancer-fighting approaches for people affected by HPV-related diseases.
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.