Translating Data 2 Action to Prevent Overdose

Overview 

The Research Need 

Deaths from opioid overdoses have increased dramatically in recent years. One major barrier to reversing this trend is difficulty collecting and analyzing high-quality, real-world data to forecast prevention and treatment service needs, identify service gaps, and inform proactive responses in line with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Overdose Prevention Strategy. 

About the Program 

The HEAL Data 2 Action (HD2A) program will develop innovative, real-world approaches to implement pragmatic, action-oriented projects that use available data to guide actions and change processes toward reducing overdoses and improving opioid use disorder treatment and pain management. The HD2A Innovation Projects focus on single systems or cross-sector partnerships and involve a wide range of stakeholders to improve data systems and bridge critical gaps in service delivery. 

Three centers will provide an infrastructure for this program.  

  • The Research Adoption Support Center will provide coordination, communication infrastructure, and logistical support, by helping HD2A Innovation Projects adopt and implement evidence-based practices to address specific service delivery gaps in opioid use disorder prevention and treatment and pain management. 

  • The Modeling and Economic Resource Center will provide consultation to the HD2A Innovation Projects about meta-modeling methods and cost analysis to facilitate estimation of intervention effectiveness and impact. 

  • The Data Infrastructure Support Center will assist HD2A Innovation Projects with data support, tools, coordination, training, and modernization.  

Program Details

Through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative® Data 2 Action Program, NIH has awarded research grants and Center cooperative agreements to support projects emphasizing the real-world application of data to improve service delivery.

Research Examples

With input from the three Resource and Support Centers, research examples supported by this program include:  

  • Using electronic health records to develop clinical decision support that encourages safer opioid prescribing and improves use of tailored, evidence-based pain management practices 
  • Developing data dashboards to identify areas of high overdose burden and implement overdose stabilization, naloxone provision, opioid use disorder treatment linkage, and wraparound service delivery  
  • Merging data streams and modeling system needs dynamically 
  • Facilitating linkage to (and retention in) treatment for opioid use disorder through technology, integrated care, and regulatory flexibility among high-risk populations  

Innovation Projects 

  • Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis – Indiana 
  • New York University – New York 
  • University of Colorado, Denver – Colorado 
  • University of South Florida – Florida 
  • University of Washington – Washington 
  • Yale University – Connecticut 

Research Adoption Support Center 

  • Stanford University – California  

Data Infrastructure Support Center 

  • Wake Forest University – North Carolina 

Modeling and Economic Resource Center 

  • Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University – New York 

Funded Projects

2022
HD2A Research Adoption Support Center (RASC)
Sep 20, 2022
2022
CADENCE – Continuous and Data-drivEN CarE
Sep 20, 2022
2022
HEAL Data2Action Modeling and Economic Resource Center
Sep 20, 2022
2022
Using Data to Drive Action to Reduce Opioid Overdoses in Seattle, WA
Sep 20, 2022
2022
WF DISC: Navigating Data Solutions for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
Sep 20, 2022