Motivational interview approach to boost use of drug checking and safer drug use to prevent overdoses
Official title: Efficacy and implementation considerations for a peer-led motivational interviewing intervention to promote uptake of drug checking services and safer drug use behaviors to reduce overdose
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11333034 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-based program led by peers uses a brief motivational interview to help people who use drugs use drug-checking services more and adopt safer behaviors to reduce overdoses in San Diego.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,066,337 |
| NIH project number | 5R33DA061260-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333034 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults 21+ who use drugs and participate in syringe service programs in San Diego County, with interest in drug checking and safer-use strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not using or not seeking harm-reduction services may derive limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a peer-led, bilingual MI intervention called MI-CHANCE to encourage uptake of drug-checking services that use test strips and FTIR technology. It is a hybrid type 1 study aiming to measure overdose outcomes over 30 months and to explore how social and cognitive factors mediate effects. Participants are people who use drugs in San Diego County, with conversations designed to fit real-world SSP settings and reflect cultural needs, including Latinx communities. The study builds on existing harm-reduction services to see if a theory-based approach improves post-checking safer behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase DCS use and lead to safer drug practices, potentially lowering overdose risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests peer-led, theory-based counseling can influence health behaviors, but this specific approach to DCS uptake is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Strathdee, Steffanie a — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Strathdee, Steffanie a
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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.