Our Grant

Guided by shared decision-making and ownership in local communities, Boston Medical Center will work with community stakeholders to bridge gaps in prevention, treatment, and recovery services by testing the implementation of a suite of tailored programs.

Key components of our approach include engaging with communities in a process to:

1. Identify local needs and existing resources.
2. Select and implement a range of evidence-based practices to reduce opioid overdose deaths.
3. Communicate messages to reduce the stigma of opioid use disorder and increase the number of individuals receiving and adhering to medication for opioid use disorder.
4. Accelerate access to low-threshold initiation of medication for opioid use disorder for individuals at high risk during hospitalization, incarceration, or detoxification.

Each component is based on evidence that informs the strategies to reduce the negative impact of opioid use disorder, initiate and maintain people with opioid use disorder in treatment, and ultimately save lives.

At Boston Medical Center, we’re committed to learning how best to work with communities to implement evidence-based interventions most effectively in order to reduce opioid overdose deaths. With an awareness that the solutions to reducing opioid overdose deaths are generated by collaborations between researchers and community partners, our aim is to optimize community-based strategies for addressing gaps in the prevention, care, and treatment for people with opioid use disorder.

The ultimate effectiveness and sustainability of the Massachusetts HEALing Communities Study lies in the participating communities. Boston Medical Center is committed to facilitating an ongoing reciprocal relationship with HEAL communities that amplifies the impact of knowledge gained from this research study.