Providence, R.I.-based Brown University is co-leading a national, six-region research project to examine rising rates of substance use, HIV, hepatitis C and overdoses, according to a Nov. 19 report from The Brown Daily Herald.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded Brown $12 million to lead research efforts in New England, according to Brandon Marshall, PhD, professor of epidemiology and co-principal investigator. As the first and only initiative of its kind in the region, the study aims to identify factors driving the surge in opioid use and associated infections, assess access to treatments and evaluate the effects of policy changes on care.
Researchers plan to follow 1,200 participants, including 180 living with HIV — over five years to monitor their health and care experiences through behavioral health assessments and disease testing. The study includes a focus on suburban and rural communities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont.
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