Exploring ways to reduce opioid misuse and its health impacts in Indigenous communities
Official title: Research Project 3
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10913568 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Indigenous communities can create programs that provide clean syringes and support for people using opioids, blending modern harm reduction methods with traditional healing, to help improve health and reduce issues like infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $490,626 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DA058619-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10913568 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Indigenous individuals who are affected by opioid misuse or injection drug use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as Indigenous or are not affected by opioid misuse may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how Indigenous communities can successfully implement syringe services programs (SSPs) that combine harm reduction strategies with traditional healing practices. By engaging with these communities, the project aims to identify factors that contribute to the effective integration of various health approaches. The methodology includes community-based participatory research, which ensures that the voices and needs of Indigenous Peoples are central to the research process. The goal is to address the high rates of opioid misuse and related health issues, such as infectious diseases, in these populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes and reduced harm from opioid misuse in Indigenous communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that integrating traditional healing practices with modern health approaches can be effective in improving health outcomes in Indigenous populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Sean T — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Allen, Sean T
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.