Improving Delivery of Healthcare Services for Polysubstance Use

Overview 

The Research Need 

The nation’s opioid crisis has evolved significantly, now reflecting use of drug combinations, potent synthetic opioids, and stimulants. Toward finding durable solutions to the opioid crisis, research approaches must recognize these shifting patterns of use. 

About the Program 

This program will support research to expand what we know about drug combinations as well as how to prevent and treat addiction and overdose resulting from these new use trends. An important focus will be research to better understand the causes, patterns, and implications of polysubstance use. That includes which substances are commonly used together, how polysubstance use affects individuals taking medications for pain or for treatment of opioid use disorder, and what role polysubstance use plays in overdose deaths and suicide.  

This research will explore health outcomes of individuals who use drug combinations, particularly those who are treated for one or more substance use disorders. This research will consider the perspectives not only of patients, but also of clinicians, payors, and policy makers. 

The program will support clinical trials to study service delivery and treatment approaches for people who use multiple substances at the same time, with a particular focus on opioids and/or stimulants. This research will pave the way for larger clinical trials by developing research methods and interventions.