Helping friends and family on Chicago's West Side become harm reduction champions to prevent opioid overdose
CE24-013 - Reducing Overdose and Substance Use-related Stigma on Chicago's West Side by Training Non-substance-using Friends and Family Members of People who Use Opioids to Be Harm Reduction Champions
This project aims to empower friends and family members in West Chicago to share life-saving harm reduction information with their loved ones who use opioids, helping to reduce overdose deaths and stigma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Opioid overdoses are a serious concern, especially for older Black individuals on Chicago's West Side who face challenges accessing support due to stigma. This project will train non-substance-using friends and family members of people who use opioids to become "harm reduction champions." These champions will learn about overdose prevention tools and services, then share this vital knowledge with a loved one who uses opioids. The goal is to make harm reduction resources more accessible and reduce the stigma that often prevents people from seeking help.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are non-substance-using friends and family members of people who use opioids living on the West Side of Chicago, who are willing to learn and share harm reduction information.
Not a fit: Individuals who do not have friends or family members willing to participate as harm reduction champions, or those outside the specified geographic area, may not directly benefit from this particular program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce opioid overdose deaths and increase access to harm reduction services for vulnerable populations by leveraging trusted community members.
How similar studies have performed: While peer support models have shown promise in various health contexts, this specific intervention training non-substance-using friends and family as harm reduction champions for opioid users in this demographic is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Leslie Denise — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Williams, Leslie Denise
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 below.