OHSU awarded $3 million federal grant for overdose prevention research

PORTLAND, Ore. – Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden
announced in a joint statement that Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
is expected to receive $3.17 million over five years from the National
Institutes of Health (NIIH) to study the effectiveness of different harm
reduction strategies at preventing overdoses and ways to expand access to these
services for “diverse” communities.

“The impact of the opioid crisis across Oregon’s
communities is immeasurable,” said Senator Merkley. “This grant to
OHSU to study overdose prevention will have a big impact in our continued fight
to beat this epidemic-especially for Oregon’s rural communities and communities
of color. I will keep working to deliver resources, solutions, and support to
address the needs of those suffering and their communities.”

“Far too many Oregonians and their loved ones know the
anguish and danger of opioid use,” Wyden said. “These federal
resources earned by OHSU will put the powers of research and science to good
use, providing the opportunity to bring relief to communities under assault
from this life-and-death epidemic. And I’ll continue battling on every front to
reduce opioid abuse and addiction throughout Oregon.”

OHSU’s study will evaluate two interventions—contingency
manejo, una intervención conductual basada en la evidencia para el tratamiento de una
variedad de trastornos por uso de sustancias; y la identificación de personas
metas de reducción de daños con el apoyo de pares—en organizaciones comunitarias en
Oregón rural, con el objetivo de aumentar la disponibilidad y eficacia de
servicios de reducción de daños.

This NIH grant is one of ten funding projects nationwide and
is provided through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative,
que tiene como objetivo acelerar las soluciones científicas para detener el público de opioides en todo el país
health crisis.

For more information about the NIH HEAL Initiative, visit
their sitio web.