Overdose rates continue to rise rapidly in the United States, driven by people who are using multiple substances such as opioids and stimulants, along with other substances. Yet experts know very little about the changing populations of people who are affected and the complex reasons that drive their substance use.
To help address this issue, Dr. Lara Coughlin and Dr. Allison Lin were awarded a new R01 grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The goal of this study is to examine the patterns and consequences of opioid and stimulant co-use and identify ways to reduce risks and harms.
Participants will be recruited into a longitudinal cohort study from both Michigan Medicine and the VA and will seek to identify gaps and opportunities in the healthcare system to improve care for people with high-risk polysubstance use.
“An important component of this project is the focus on identifying meaningful ways to improve health care for people with high-risk polysubstance use to improve outcomes and reduce consequences including overdose.” –Lara Coughlin, Ph.D.
“We're so excited about this project, because it gives us the chance to understand the intricacies of some of the most vulnerable patients in our health system to inform actionable strategies we can use to better reach and treat these populations." –Allison Lin, M.D., M.S.
This project also includes the following co-investigators: Maureen Walton, Ph.D., M.P.H., Erin Bonar, Ph.D., Jason Goldstick, Ph.D., and expert grant support from Susan Selter.
