Health Kiosks to Reduce Drug-Related Risks in Rural Appalachia
Official title: Kentucky Outreach Service Kiosk (KyOSK): Reducing Overdose, Hepatitis C, and Other Drug-related Risks in Rural Appalachia through Health Kiosks
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11118797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is exploring if health kiosks can help people in rural Appalachian Kentucky who use injection drugs reduce their risks of overdose, hepatitis C, and HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $550,448 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA055872-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals in rural Appalachian Kentucky who use injection drugs and may be at risk for overdose, hepatitis C, or HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not living in rural Appalachian Kentucky or those not at risk for injection drug-related harms would not directly benefit from this specific outreach program.
What this research studies
This project addresses the serious health challenges of injection drug use, overdoses, hepatitis C (HCV), and potential HIV outbreaks in rural Appalachian Kentucky. While syringe service programs (SSPs) exist, many people who inject drugs do not use them due to fear of being identified. This research will test an innovative approach using health kiosks to provide services and reduce these harms. The goal is to offer a more private and accessible way for individuals to get important health resources and support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce rates of overdose, hepatitis C, and HIV among people who inject drugs in rural areas by offering more accessible and private health services.
How similar studies have gone: While existing syringe service programs are underutilized, this kiosk-based approach is a novel strategy to overcome barriers to access and has not been widely tested in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, April Marie — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Young, April Marie
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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.