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HEALing Communities Study: Data measures for supporting a community-based intervention to reduce opioid overdose
Svetla Slavova1, Jennifer Villani2, Daniel J Feaster3
1Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Healthy Kentucky Research Building, Suite 260, 760 Press Avenue, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|June 7, 2025
Summary
The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) intervention reduced opioid overdose deaths, but rates remain high, especially for Black individuals. Data show increased naloxone distribution and varied medication for opioid use disorder treatment rates across states.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) implemented a community-based intervention across 67 communities in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio.
- The primary goal was to reduce opioid overdose deaths through a multi-faceted approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and detail the HCS measures for monitoring intervention uptake.
- To report crude opioid overdose death rates for benchmarking and trend analysis.
- To emphasize the importance of contextualizing jurisdictional trends with state policies.
Main Methods:
- Technical specifications for HCS measures and the common data model are presented.
- Crude opioid overdose death rates were calculated for the evaluation period (July 2021-June 2022) by state and study arm (intervention/Wave 1 vs. wait-listed/Wave 2).
- Longitudinal trends from 2017 to 2023 were analyzed, with 2023 serving as a post-intervention period for Wave 1 and an intervention year for Wave 2.
Main Results:
- Opioid overdose death rates declined in 2023 after increases in 2020-2021 but remained above pre-pandemic levels.
- Rates exceeded 100/100,000 adults among Non-Hispanic Black individuals in several states.
- Naloxone distribution in Kentucky intervention communities increased 10-fold in Q3 2021; medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment rates varied, with Massachusetts highest for methadone and Kentucky for buprenorphine.
Conclusions:
- The HCS measures provide a robust framework for evaluating population-level opioid overdose prevention interventions.
- These measures support comprehensive planning and policy development to address the opioid crisis.
Keywords:
BuprenorphineHEALing Communities Study (HCS)Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD)MethadoneNaloxoneOpioid overdoseMore Related Videos
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