How drug-use networks affect who uses overdose prevention programs
Official title: Investigating drug use network influences on overdose prevention program utilization
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11354932 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how friends, peers, and other drug-use networks influence whether people use overdose prevention programs and related services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $159,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DA065862-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354932 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk of overdose who interact with or live in communities where overdose prevention programs operate.
✕Less likely to help
People not connected to or affected by overdose prevention services may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers at Brown University will examine how social networks surrounding people who use drugs shape engagement with overdose prevention programs, including naloxone access, testing, and social supports. The study will analyze real-world program data and may include interviews or surveys to understand network effects on service uptake. The goal is to identify network-based barriers and facilitators so programs can better reach people at risk of overdose.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help communities tailor overdose prevention programs to better reach people who use drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that social networks influence health behaviors, but this study explores network effects on overdose-program uptake specifically.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macmadu, Alexandria — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Macmadu, Alexandria
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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.