Union College is playing a role in the largest research grant ever received by the University of Kentucky.

The project is through NIH's HEALing (Helping End Addiction Long Term) Communities Study, a four-year, $87 million study aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths by 40 percent. The randomized study includes 16 Kentucky counties impacted by opioid overdoses and is broken down into two waves of eight counties each. WAVE 1, which includes Boyd, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Kenton, and Madison counties, was launched in 2020.

The second wave of the study, WAVE 2, was launched in Bourbon, Campbell, Carter, Greenup, Jefferson, Jessamine, Knox, and Mason counties on July 1 and runs to December 31, 2023. Through the HCS intervention, communities will implement evidence-based recovery, treatment, and prevention strategies proven to reduce opioid overdose deaths.

"Establishing strong partnerships with local institutions, opinion leaders, and stakeholders is at the core of the HEALing Communities Study," says Knox County HCS faculty lead Dr. Hilary Surratt. "We are fortunate to be partnering with Knox County and have convened a strong coalition of committed stakeholders, chaired by Jake Knuckles, Assistant Chief, who are leading the selection of evidence-based practices to reduce opioid overdose deaths in Knox County. It is difficult to adequately express our gratitude to the coalition for their effort and commitment to this important work."

Union College Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Marisa Greer is a coalition member. Their goal is to expand access to evidence-based practices to reduce opioid overdose deaths, including medication treatment for opioid use disorder, overdose prevention education, distribution of the overdose reversal drug naloxone, and reducing risky prescribing.

"Union College continues our commitment to our community and region by partnering with the UK HEALing Communities Study to assist with outreach and programming to reduce opioid overdose deaths," said Greer. "This partnership directly impacts the lives of those living and working in our community through community education and training sessions for healthcare providers offered through the study."

Additionally, Union College supplies office space for the UK HEALing Communities team and rooms for all meetings associated with the study, including evening and weekend programming.

"Through WAVE 2, the HEALing Communities Study will bring life-changing outreach and access to treatment to thousands of Kentuckians," said HCS principal investigator Sharon Walsh, Ph.D., a professor in UK's College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy and director for the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research. "The intervention will also help us better understand what's needed in each community and where to focus and ramp up efforts to best support individuals to reduce opioid overdose deaths. What we learn will create sustainable solutions for the opioid epidemic in Kentucky that can also be replicated in communities throughout the nation."

Rooted in the Union College mission is a commitment to serve the community. Once the study concludes, the College hopes to utilize its nursing and psychology programs to keep the momentum going on this initiative and help the community heal from the opioid crisis.