Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)? What does NIDA do?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a federal scientific research institute and the world’s largest funder of biomedical research on drug use and addiction. NIDA’s mission is to advance science on drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. NIDA is one of 27 Institutes and Centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NIDA supports and conducts a wide range of preclinical, clinical, and population-level research to address key questions about drug use and health. NIDA then disseminates key findings of the research it supports to the public, health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Learn more about NIDA’s priority research areas outlined in the 2022-2026 NIDA Strategic Plan.

Founded in 1974, NIDA has been directed by Nora D. Volkow, M.D., since 2003. Learn more about NIDA’s organization and activities on the About NIDA page.

How does NIDA fund research?

Part of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIDA is a publicly funded federal research institute. NIDA funds meritorious and innovative biomedical research projects that support its mission. NIDA’s mission is to advance science on drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.

Find more information on NIDA research opportunities, initiatives, and policies at the NIDA Grants and Funding page. Find more information on NIH research opportunities, initiatives, and policies—including instructions on how to apply for funding—at the NIH Grants and Funding site.

Where can I find substance use treatment or other medical help for myself or a loved one?

NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counselling, or referral services.

  • IN AN EMERGENCY: If you or someone you know is experiencing severe symptoms or is in immediate danger, please seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 or visiting an emergency department. Poison control can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 or poison.org.
  • NEED SUPPORT NOW? If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.
  • FIND TREATMENT: For referrals to substance use and mental health treatment programs, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit FindTreatment.gov.
  • For other personal medical advice, please speak to a health care provider. Find more health resources on USA.gov.

The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care.

How can I participate in a clinical trial?

NIDA supports studies taking place around the world and conducts clinical research studies at its Intramural Research Program in Baltimore, Maryland. Learn more about participating in NIDA-funded or conducted clinical trials.

How can I stay updated on NIDA news and activities?
Where can I find more information about drugs and addiction?
What employment, training, and volunteer opportunities does NIDA offer?
How can I find support for my project?

NIDA funds meritorious and innovative biomedical research projects that support its mission to advance science on drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. Find more information on NIDA research opportunities, initiatives, and policies at the NIDA Grants and Funding page. Find more information on NIH research opportunities, initiatives, and policies—including instructions on how to apply for funding—at the NIH Grants and Funding site. For questions about specific funding opportunity announcements, please contact the listed program official.

For more information about funding for public health programs, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grants page. For additional federal funding opportunities for programs related to substance use, see the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grants page.

Where can I find statistics related to substance use?

For the latest findings and statistics from NIDA research, please visit NIDA’s News and Events page. For more information on drug overdose death statistics, please visit the Overdose Death Rates page or explore information from the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For general national data on substance use, you may visit the official website of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

Where can I find publications and educational materials on drug use and addiction? Does NIDA mail printed materials?

You can explore a variety of information on substance use and addiction by visiting NIDA’s Research Topics page. Additional educational materials for students can be found on NIDA’s Parents and Educators page.

While NIDA does not create or distribute printed materials, some digital and print-friendly NIDA Publications are available. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers delivery of select printed materials on drug use and addiction through the SAMSHA Store.

Where can I find screening tools and other resources for patient care? Do I need NIDA’s permission to use them in a training or clinical study?

Explore validated Screening Tools and related resources from NIDAMED. Additional assessment tools may be found on NIDA’s Research Data, Measures and Resources page. Unless otherwise specified, NIDA-developed screening and assessment tools—including the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medications, and other Substance (TAPS) Tool—are in the public domain, and permission is not required to use them. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Where can I find data from NIDA-supported studies and related research resources?

Explore research data sharing resources, policies, and related tools on NIDA’s Research Data, Measures and Resources page. For further data related to specific published study results, please reach out directly to the corresponding author.

Who maintains the NIDA website?

The NIDA web site at nida.nih.gov is maintained by the NIDA Office of Science Policy and Communications (OSPC). For technical problems with the NIDA website, contact the NIDA Webmaster.

Do I have permission to use, reproduce or share a NIDA webpage, publication, graphic or video?

Unless otherwise specified, written NIDA materials are in the public domain and may be reproduced in their entirety without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is requested.

Many multimedia products (including photographs, illustrations, and videos) featured on the NIDA site are not in the public domain and may not be used without permission. Please send questions about the use of specific multimedia products to nidamultimedia@mail.nih.gov.

Where can I find information about National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®?

Participate in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) and help share facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction in your community. If your organization is interested in hosting a local event or promotional activity, visit Learn About NDAFW. If you have further questions, please contact drugfacts@nida.nih.gov.

Where can I find information for a school project?

Explore information by topic in NIDA’s Research Topics web portal and find educational resources on the Parents and Educators page. For scientific literature on substance use, you may consider searching PubMed, a tool provided by the National Library of Medicine.

See also: Where can I find more information about drugs and addiction?

I (or my organization) have produced content that may be of interest. Can NIDA please post or share it?

Thank you for your interest. As a federal scientific research agency, NIDA only accepts guest blog posts or articles from other federal agencies and organizations with which we have formal partnerships.

Can NIDA assist me with interpreting or disputing the results of a drug screen?

NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personal medical advice, legal consultation, or medical review services to the public. While NIDA-supported research may inform the development and validation of drug screening technologies, NIDA does not manufacture, regulate or distribute laboratory or at-home drug screening products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates most of these products in the United States. Those with concerns about drug screening results may consider reaching out to the drug screening program or a qualified health care professional. For more information on workplace drug screening, please visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) Division of Workplace Programs website.

Can NIDA assist me with a substance-related legal problem?

NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personal legal consultation or typically provide expert witnesses. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional legal help. For more information on finding legal help, explore Legal Aid resources from USA.gov. 

Can I report a suspected crime to NIDA?

NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not enforce laws or process reports of suspected illegal activity related to drug trafficking, sales, or use. Regarding these concerns, you may consider contacting local law enforcement or the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. For more information on laws and legal issues, visit USA.gov.

How can I contact NIDA?

If your question was not answered in this FAQ, please Submit a Question or Comment here. For additional contact information, please visit Contact Us.