How housing policies affect access to addiction treatment and overdose risk
Housing Policies and their Impact on Engagement in Substance Use Treatment and Overdose Risk
This project looks at whether eviction bans, emergency rental help, and tenant legal aid help people with substance use problems get into treatment and avoid overdoses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093464 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project compares states over time to see if three housing policies—eviction moratoria, emergency rental assistance, and the right to counsel for tenants—are linked with more people entering addiction treatment and fewer fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Researchers will use nationwide administrative health and treatment records from all 50 states and statistical methods that compare changes before and after policy adoption. They will also conduct interviews and other qualitative work with people affected and with providers to understand how the policies change care-seeking and risk on the ground. The aim is to identify which policy approaches most help people with substance use disorder by improving housing stability and access to care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with substance use disorder who are facing housing instability, eviction risk, or needing rental assistance would be the main focus, and providers or tenants impacted by these policies may be invited for interviews.
Not a fit: People without substance use disorders or those with stable housing are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify housing policies that help people with substance use disorder stay housed, connect with treatment, and experience fewer overdoses.
How similar studies have performed: Programs like Housing First have improved outcomes for some people with SUD, but rigorous statewide analyses of eviction moratoria, rental assistance, and right-to-counsel on overdose and treatment engagement are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eisenberg, Matthew — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Eisenberg, Matthew
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.