OD-CHESS: a smartphone tool to help reduce overdose risk for people who use multiple substances
Official title: "A friend in my pocket": mHealth intervention to reduce overdose risk among people who engage in polysubstance use
Funded at Research Triangle Institute · NIH-11454641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone app-based program designed to reduce overdose risks for people who use drugs and often mix substances, with plans to test its effectiveness in urban and rural communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $881,666 |
| NIH project number | 4R33DA061296-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who use drugs and engage in polysubstance use, in urban or rural settings, who are willing to use a smartphone app and participate in a trial.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not use smartphones or who are not engaged in polysubstance use may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will tailor an existing app-based support system for people who use drugs (PWUD) to create OD-CHESS, a harm-reduction tool delivered through a mobile phone. It will test the app in a randomized trial to see if it lowers risky substance-use behaviors and overdose risk. The study builds on real-life data collected from daily-life reports and involves input from PWUD, harm-reduction partners, and national networks to ensure the tool is usable and scalable. The research aims to learn how well the app works over time and what factors influence its impact in diverse settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could provide a scalable, people-centered way to reduce overdose risk for PWUD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with mHealth tools for substance use suggests potential benefits, but this specific R33-guided randomized trial is novel in its OD-risk focus and scaling plan.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lorvick, Jennifer — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Lorvick, Jennifer
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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.