How the opioid crisis affects families and communities over time
Measuring the Longer Term Social Burdens of the Opioid Crisis on Local Communities
This project looks at how the opioid crisis has changed family life, child welfare, jobs, and community well-being across U.S. counties.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rand Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11125939 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze large state and county records and other existing data to track how the opioid crisis has shifted from prescription pills to heroin and fentanyl and how those shifts affected households and neighborhoods. The team will examine changes in family composition (for example, grandparents caring for children), child-welfare involvement, labor market participation, and community crime rates. They will compare places by urban/rural status, education, age, and other demographics to see why some communities suffered more or recovered better. The work focuses on community- and household-level data and policy-relevant patterns rather than testing a medical treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in U.S. counties with high opioid-related harms — including family members of people who use opioids, caregivers, and households affected by child-welfare actions — are the primary focus of the project's findings.
Not a fit: Individuals seeking direct medical treatment for opioid dependence or overdose will not receive clinical care or immediate personal benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could help policymakers and local leaders target supports to reduce family disruption and improve services for children and caregivers in hard-hit communities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown local economic and child-welfare impacts from the opioid crisis, but this project applies longer-term, comparative analyses to expand understanding across communities and time.
Where this research is happening
Santa Monica, United States
- Rand Corporation — Santa Monica, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peet, Evan David — Rand Corporation
- Study coordinator: Peet, Evan David
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.