Mail delivery of clean syringes, naloxone, and fentanyl test strips for people who use drugs
Expansion of Mail-Delivered Harm Reduction Services in the U.S.
This project will expand and support mail delivery of clean syringes, overdose-reversal medicine (naloxone), and fentanyl test strips for people who use drugs to make these services easier and more private.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11364682 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will look at state laws to see where mailing syringes and test strips is allowed and where it may be blocked. They will talk with health departments and syringe service programs to learn about legal worries and practical barriers to mail delivery. A national group of people who sign up for mail-based safer drug use services will be followed over time to see who uses the service and who keeps using it. Clients will also be asked what additional safer-drug or health services they would like added to mail deliveries.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people in the United States who currently inject drugs or are at risk of opioid overdose and are willing to receive harm-reduction supplies by mail.
Not a fit: People who do not use drugs, who live outside the United States, or who cannot receive mail at a stable address may not benefit from these services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could increase access to life-saving naloxone and clean supplies and help prevent overdoses and HIV/HCV outbreaks by reaching people who cannot or will not use in-person services.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller pilot programs and outreach efforts have shown mail distribution can reach people avoiding in-person services, but nationwide scale-up and long-term engagement are still relatively untested.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Behrends, Czarina Navos — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Behrends, Czarina Navos
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.