Neighborhood repairs to reduce opioid misuse and overdoses
The Impact of Community Infrastructure Reinvestment Programs on Opioid Misuse and Opioid Overdose
This project sees whether fixing vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and dilapidated homes in Philadelphia lowers opioid misuse and overdose risk for nearby residents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141832 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of looking at neighborhoods where city and community programs cleaned up blight and comparing them to similar neighborhoods that did not get repairs. Researchers will link maps of where improvements happened with health and emergency data like overdose calls and public health surveys to look for changes over time. The work partners with Philadelphia LandCare and a Basic Systems Repair Program that have already remediated lots and homes in targeted blocks. The goal is to learn if these visible neighborhood improvements change stress, drug use patterns, and overdose rates for people who live there.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Philadelphia residents who live on or near blocks targeted by blight-remediation programs, especially those at risk for or affected by opioid use.
Not a fit: People who live far from the targeted neighborhoods or whose opioid use is driven mainly by clinical prescribing or individual clinical factors may not see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these neighborhood improvements could lower local opioid misuse and overdose rates and improve residents' safety and mental health.
How similar studies have performed: Prior Philadelphia research on blight remediation showed reductions in crime and improvements in stress and depression, but effects on opioid use and overdoses remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nesoff, Elizabeth — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Nesoff, Elizabeth
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.