Reducing Overdose Deaths through the HEALing Communities Study

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) HEALing Communities Study (HCS) was a large implementation study conducted in 67 communities across four states (Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio) that tested a set of evidence-based interventions and approaches for reducing overdose deaths. Central to the study was the Opioid-overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA), which provided a menu of evidence-based practices to guide community action. These practices focused on opioid education and naloxone distribution, medication for opioid use disorder, and safer opioid prescribing and dispensing. Communities participating in HCS were encouraged to select and implement strategies that best aligned with their specific needs and contexts.

The webinar, hosted by the NIH, will spotlight innovative programs from four diverse HCS communities. Presenters will share insights into their community's specific challenges, the strategies they selected from the ORCCA menu, the outcomes achieved, and key lessons learned throughout the process. Attendees will gain insights from real-world examples, learning what worked and what didn't and how these efforts can serve as models for broader application in various settings.