Dr. Hochstatter Receives an Administrative Supplement to Extend her NIDA-funded R01

FRI is pleased to announce that Drs. Karli R Hochstatter (PI) and Jan Gryczynski (Co-I), along with the Chief Medical Examiner from the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, have received an administrative supplement entitled, “Addressing substance use among the social network of suspected drug overdose decedents: rapidly translating epidemiology into prevention intervention science.” This supplement will extend their NIDA-funded R01 study focused on identifying and tracking suspected overdoses in near real-time (parent award R01DA057685) into prevention intervention research by studying the timely delivery of services to a potentially hidden population with unmet needs: overdose decedents’ network members who use drugs. The Social Worker Outreach and Resource Delivery (SWORD) intervention is delivered by a trained social worker at the medical examiner’s office and integrates evidence-based strategies, including motivational interviewing, social support, and linkage to services, to mitigate health risks following loss to overdose. The specific aims of this supplement are to: 1) Estimate the prevalence of substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) among the close social ties of overdose decedents, and 2) Examine the effect of the SWORD intervention on substance use, risk/protective behaviors, and service engagement among overdose decedents’ close social ties who use drugs. To achieve these aims, we will conduct a cross-sectional survey with 384 close social ties of overdose decedents to characterize substance use patterns by type of drug and estimate the prevalence of substance use and SUDs in this population. Up to 130 participants (65 SWORD, 65 Control) who report drug use will be invited to participate in an extended survey to examine outcomes of substance use, risk/protective behaviors, and service engagement. Data collected from these supplemental activities will provide critical information about how this time-sensitive service delivery opportunity prevents substance use risks among overdose decedents’ network members who use drugs.