HEALing Communities Study Data Coordinating Center

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT A seeming unrelenting opioid crisis is devastating the United States, with rural states and communities being hit especially hard. Actionable guidance is desperately needed to curb the death and devastation caused by opioid misuse and addiction. Recognizing the urgent need, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) to reduce opioid overdose fatalities by at least 40% in 3-years. Four research sites (RSs) and a data coordinating center (DCC) are evaluating the implementation of evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions, and their cost and cost-effectiveness. RTI servse as the DCC for

HCS. We coordinate and facilitate communications to unite the HCS members into a cohesive research cooperative (Aim 1a). We work with the RSs to apply implementation science methods to understand the barriers and facilitators to successful uptake of proven interventions in health care, behavioral care, criminal

justice, and other public health settings (Aim 1b). Novel insights will be gained through the application of advanced data management, biostatistics, analytic, and computing techniques (Aim 2). We have the infrastructure in place to support efficient operations. Data harmonization is enhanced using innovative

methods and tools for selecting common data elements and for transforming data from many administrative systems to a consolidated HCS data model. We will conduct health economics research to determine the incremental costs of start-up and ongoing implementation, and the cost-effectiveness of evidence-based

approaches to mitigate the opioid epidemic (Aim 3). We have developed a microsimulation model that will inform optimal resource allocation to achieve target reductions in opioid overdose deaths and other negative outcomes. We will develop the Opioid Policy Simulator as a translational tool for communities (internal and

external to HCS) to use as they plan their own interventions to reduce opioid effects in their locales. The Simulator will be an interactive online tool to help decisionmakers synthesize information from multiple sources and select the combination of interventions best suited for their community. Our DCC team, led by

multiple Principal Investigators Drs. Emmanuel Oga, Gary Zarkin, and LaShawn Glasgow are experienced leaders of multi-site studies and experts in data harmonization, biostatistics, health economics, and addiction etiology. Our broader team of investigators and consultants brings robust scientific and implementation

science skills interwoven with a deep understanding of the opioid crisis.