RTI HEAL Harm Reduction Network Coordination Center

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Project Summary/Abstract The magnitude of the overdose crisis has brought an increased focus to a well-known public health tool referred to as harm reduction—a set of strategies or programs implemented to reduce the negative consequences associated with the use of opioids and other substances while maintaining respect for the individual. Recognizing the importance of harm reduction in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis and substance use disorder more broadly, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative, intends to launch a Harm Reduction Network (HRN) of nine research projects and a Coordination Center (CC) to improve understanding of the effectiveness and outcomes of implementation of harm reduction strategies. RTI proposes to serve as the CC for the HRN. In this capacity, RTI will provide scientific, administrative, and logistical support for the HRN to facilitate network coordination and communication (Aim 1). Recognizing the importance of data harmonization for harm reduction research, RTI will facilitate a stakeholder-engaged process of developing common metrics and measures to support HEAL data harmonization, data infrastructure and sharing, and provide methodology consultations (Aim 2). Given the importance of involving stakeholder voices to adequately identify the problems faced by specific populations and serve them with evidence-based solutions, RTI will facilitate a conceptually driven engagement of stakeholders representing individuals and communities at highest risk for harms associated with drug use (Aim 3). To accelerate the translation of research findings into practice, RTI will establish a research infrastructure that facilitates the timely development and dissemination of translational products, including effective dissemination strategies through user-centered design (Aim 4). Our CC team is led by multiple Principal Investigators Drs. Emmanuel Oga and Jessica Cance, who are experienced leaders of the largest existing NIH HEAL multisite efforts. The broader team of Core leaders, co-investigators, and scientific advisors bring significant expertise in harm reduction, data harmonization, statistical methodology, data infrastructure development and management, and implementation science. RTI has extensive experience successfully running CCs and retains substantive collective expertise in substance use research, harm reduction, and community engagement to implement a portfolio of scientific and support activities for the network. The RTI CC will provide the needed robust central operation to coordinate a comprehensive multiproject, multipronged research endeavor that demonstrates an understanding of the methodological complexities of integrating evidence from multiple sources with diverse populations and outcomes.