Training friends and family to support people using opioids on Chicago's West Side
Official title: CE24-013 - Reducing Overdose and Substance Use-related Stigma on Chicago's West Side by Training Non-substance-using Friends and Family Members of People who Use Opioids to Be Harm Reduction Champions
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10992565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping older Black folks in Chicago who use opioids by training their friends and family to support them with overdose prevention and access to helpful resources, creating a caring community around them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $749,475 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CE003666-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older Black individuals who use opioids and their non-substance-using friends or family members living on the West side of Chicago.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use opioids or do not have a support network of friends or family members may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to reduce stigma and improve access to harm reduction services for older Black individuals who use opioids in Chicago. It involves training non-substance-using friends and family members to become harm reduction champions, equipping them with knowledge about overdose prevention and available resources. Participants will be encouraged to recruit someone they know who uses opioids to join the program, creating a supportive network that fosters access to essential services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase access to harm reduction services and reduce opioid-related fatalities in marginalized communities.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches have shown promise in other communities, indicating potential for success in this novel intervention.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Leslie Denise — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Williams, Leslie Denise
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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.