The National Institute on Drugs and Addiction^ (NIDA) advances science on substance use and addiction to improve individual and public health. After decades of research, addiction is now understood to be a chronic, treatable brain disorder. NIDA-supported research has led to effective prevention and treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), helping millions of Americans reduce their risk of overdose and recover from addiction.
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The Addiction Public Health Crisis
- 40.3 million people in the United States had an SUD in 2020.*
- In 2020, only 6.5 percent of people with SUD received treatment.*
- In 2021, about 107,000 people died of drug overdoses.**
- Black and American Indian/Alaska Native people had the highest rates of fatal overdose in 2021.***
FY 2022 Research Investment
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- 396 Full-time equivalents (FTEs)
- 406 New research project grants
- 554 Unique investigators
- 118 Early-stage investigators
- $706 million for opioid research
- $270 million for HIV/AIDS research
NIDA's Research Portfolio
- Basic neuroscience to understand how drugs affect brain circuits and how addiction occurs.
- Prevention research to identify and address early life risk factors for drug use and SUD. Development and testing of new therapies to treat SUD and prevent overdose.
- Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in addiction science.
- Bringing evidence-based interventions into practice and adapting them to community needs. Addressing the impact of structural racism on addiction and in addiction research.
Recent Accomplishments and New Programs
Basic Neuroscience
- New brain imaging studies suggest that addictions to nicotine and alcohol are associated with a shared brain circuit that could be an optimal target for neuromodulation therapies. Recent evidence shows that non-neuronal cells called astrocytes influence how we respond to drugs and our vulnerability to addiction. NIDA is increasing its funding for research on mechanisms of polysubstance addiction.
Prevention
- The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD) study recently found that children exposed to cannabis prenatally were more likely to have mental health issues at ages 11-12.
- New research, including a collaboration with the ABCD study, will focus on addressing social determinants of health to prevent opioid use disorder (OUD).
Therapeutics and Medication Development and Testing
- In a recent trial, combining a medication for OUD (naltrexone) with an antidepressant (bupropion) reduced drug use and improved depression for people with meth addiction.
- New therapies under development include monoclonal antibodies and sequestrants designed to prevent meth and opioids from entering the brain.
- NIDA-funded research has led to 30 Investigational New Drug applications for OUD since 2019.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- NIDA provided early funding to startups tackling the overdose crisis in unique ways, such as by monitoring wastewater for patterns of drug use and providing SUD care by telehealth.
- NIDA is soliciting research from small businesses to investigate psychedelic drugs and related compounds as treatments for SUD.
Bringing Interventions into Practice
- NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network found that physician-pharmacist collaboration improves patients’access and adherence to medications for OUD.
- The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network found that providing medications for OUD in prisons and jails reduces overdose and recidivism among incarcerated people.
- A new harm reduction research network supports research on interventions to reduce overdose and other harms from SUD, with a focus on reaching underserved populations.
Racial Equity Initiative (REI)
- In FY22, the REI announced new funding to support scientists from underrepresented groups and released nine funding opportunities to address structural racism and its impact on substance use and related outcomes.
- NIDA plans to invest $100 million in the REI over the next 10 years.
References
- ^The FY24 President’s Budget proposes to rename the National Institute on Drug Abuse to the National Institute on Drugs and Addiction.
- * 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- ** 2022 CDC/National Center for Health Statistics
- *** CDC WONDER Provisional Mortality data
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