# Preventing Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States

> **NIH NIH R01** · RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE · 2020 · $164,420

## Abstract

We are proposing an urgent competitive revision for our current grant (R01DA04686702) to study the impact
of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on syringe service programs (SSPs) throughout the United
States (US). The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly proliferated and caused unprecedented disruption to
health and health services in the US and has the potential to reverse recent reductions in the nation's opioid
overdose mortality rate. As cities, counties, and states tried to stunt the transmission and impact of COVID-
19, they began rolling out various social distancing orders (e.g., Shelter-in-Place). A consequence of these
public health mandates and the need to protect people from COVID-19 has been disruptions in services for
people who inject drugs (PWID). Particularly in the context of the opioid epidemic, understanding how the
COVID-19 pandemic has affected services for people who use drugs is critical to know how to respond
within the current pandemic and to be better prepared for future public health crises. SSPs have been the
mainstay for community-based prevention efforts for PWID and have pioneered efforts for implementing
overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) and improving enrollment into medications for opioid
use disorder (MOUD) programs. SSPs are considered an “essential service” and have not been mandated to
suspend services during Shelter-in-Place orders. As part of our nationwide study of SSPs, our study team
has documented that SSPs are facing unprecedented challenges and adapting implementations, as
necessary. Leveraging our ongoing study, we propose to build a comprehensive understanding of
adaptations made in response to COVID-19. Using the exploration, preparation, implementation, and
sustainment (EPIS) framework, we propose to systematically assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
on SSP services in the US. Our proposed aims are as follows: Aim 1: To characterize the response to
COVID-19 regarding the delivery of syringe services, overdose education and naloxone distribution, and
medications for opioid use disorder among SSPs; Aim 2: To describe barriers and facilitators among SSPs
regarding implementation of syringe services, overdose education and naloxone distribution, and
medications for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve these aims, we will conduct
a cross-sectional study with all SSPs (N = 407) in the US in late summer/fall 2020. In addition, we will
conduct in-depth interviews with 36 SSPs from geographically diverse urban, suburban, and rural locations
where we observe varying levels of implementation experiences—de-implementation of services, adapted
implementations, and implementation as usual—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how the
COVID-19 pandemic has impacted services for PWID is critical for improving our response within the current
pandemic and being better prepared for future pandemics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10164091
- **Project number:** 3R01DA046867-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Barrot Hopkins Lambdin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $164,420
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-07-15 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10164091

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10164091, Preventing Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States (3R01DA046867-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10164091. Licensed CC0.

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