How prescription stimulants may affect overdose risk
Impact of prescription stimulants on the drug overdose epidemic
Researchers are using adults' medical and prescription records to see whether getting stimulant medications is linked to a higher or lower chance of later overdoses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would not be asked to visit a clinic; the team will use large, real-world health databases and prescription records to follow adults who received stimulant medications. They will link prescription histories with emergency department, toxicology, and mortality records to look for patterns of transition to illicit stimulants and overdoses involving fentanyl. The researchers will compare people prescribed stimulants to similar people who were not, to separate medication effects from other risks. This work is designed to clarify whether prescriptions are associated with increased harm or possible benefits in routine care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who have received prescription stimulants or who have a history of stimulant or other substance use are the main groups reflected in the records studied.
Not a fit: People under 21, or those with no exposure to prescription or illicit stimulants, are unlikely to be included or to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If links are identified, the results could help doctors prescribe and monitor stimulants more safely to reduce overdose risk.
How similar studies have performed: Some clinical trials have shown stimulants can aid short-term abstinence for people with substance use disorders, but using linked real-world records to connect prescriptions to overdose outcomes is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Belmont, United States
- Mclean Hospital — Belmont, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Nadai, Alessandro Stevens — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: De Nadai, Alessandro Stevens
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.