Background on the HEALing Communities Study 

 Scientists from the nation’s leading health agencies and four major academic institutions are partnering with communities in four states to test a set of interventions to combat the opioid crisis. The ambitious HEALing Communities Study (HCS) aims to reduce opioid overdose deaths by 40 percent over 3 years in participating communities. Cuyahoga County is one of these communities.

In Ohio, The Ohio State University is the study partner. The HCS is a multiyear study under a cooperative agreement supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Cuyahoga County was chosen because of the high rate of overdose fatalities. Community education is one effort supported by HCS to help prevent access to prescription opioids.

The ADAMHS Board's Role in the Study

The ADAMHS Board is a HCS member and active in the communications subcommittee. The HCS is coming to a close on June 30, 2022. The communications subcommittee proposed housing communications materials created by the study on the ADAMHS Board's website for future use. Materials include information about substance use disorder prevention, harm reduction, treatment, anti-stigma and recovery supports.

Communications materials are coming soon!