Improving support for harm reduction workers dealing with substance misuse
Official title: Testing an occupational stress intervention for harm reduction workers in substance misuse settings
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-10933525 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special program to help harm reduction workers who support people with substance use issues manage their stress better, and it will involve getting their feedback to make sure it meets their needs before testing how well it works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $470,995 |
| NIH project number | 5R61DA059887-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10933525 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are harm reduction workers who experience high levels of occupational stress and trauma in their roles.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in harm reduction work or do not experience occupational stress related to substance misuse may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an intervention to reduce occupational stress among harm reduction workers who support individuals with substance use disorders. It aims to adapt a program called Stress First Aid, which has been effective in other healthcare settings, specifically for the unique challenges faced by these workers. The study will involve gathering input from harm reduction workers and their leaders to tailor the intervention to their needs, followed by a rigorous clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness. By addressing the stress and trauma these workers experience, the research seeks to improve their well-being and the quality of care they provide.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the mental health and job satisfaction of harm reduction workers, leading to better care for individuals with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar stress intervention programs in healthcare settings, indicating potential for this approach with harm reduction workers.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Creech, Suzannah K — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Creech, Suzannah K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Stress First Aid support for harm reduction workers in substance-use settings
A workplace stress-reduction program adapted to help harm reduction workers who support people with opioid and stimulant use.
-
Grappling with Trauma: BJJ for First Responders
This program tests whether eight weeks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be tied to changes in trauma-related symptoms for first responders who prefer movement-based activities over traditional mental health services.
-
Virtual Reality Program to Support Healthcare Workers
A brief immersive virtual reality program is being tested to see if it helps reduce burnout and improve well-being for healthcare workers.
-
Productivity training to lower job stress for nurses
This project will try a three-week productivity training program to see if it lowers job stress and improves nurses' attitudes about productivity.
-
Exercise snack program to boost employee health and work performance
A 12-week program tests short, daily exercise sessions tailored to individual needs to see if they improve health and work performance for staff at Kaohsiung Medical University and affiliated hospital.
-
Sisters of Heart: community health worker support to improve heart health in migrant farmworker women
This trial tests whether peer support and help accessing community resources from community health workers can reduce stress and improve heart health measures in Spanish- or English-speaking migrant farmworker women aged 18–45.
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.