Improving Access to Overdose and Substance Use Disorder Care for People in the Criminal Legal System
Official title: Implementation and Translation Research Project Core
Funded at George Mason University · NIH-11128729 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create better ways to deliver life-saving overdose prevention and substance use disorder treatments to people involved with the criminal legal system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Mason University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfax, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $490,302 |
| NIH project number | 5U2CDA050097-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128729 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is designed to benefit individuals with substance use disorders and those at risk of overdose who are involved with the criminal legal system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not at risk of overdose or not involved with the criminal legal system would not directly benefit from this specific implementation project.
What this research studies
Many people involved with the criminal legal system face a high risk of overdose, and while effective treatments exist, they often don't reach everyone who needs them. This project is developing and testing a new model to help spread these proven prevention and treatment strategies more widely across criminal legal and public health systems. Our goal is to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners, ensuring that life-changing innovations are adopted on a larger scale. By integrating different successful approaches, we hope to make it easier for agencies to implement these vital programs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could significantly increase access to effective overdose prevention and substance use disorder treatments for vulnerable populations, potentially saving many lives.
How similar studies have gone: While specific models for large-scale implementation are still developing, many individual prevention and treatment interventions for substance use disorders have already shown success.
Where this research is happening
-
George Mason University
Fairfax, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molfenter, Todd David — George Mason University
- Study coordinator: Molfenter, Todd 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.