HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) - Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center

40-75% percent of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have co-occurring chronic pain (CP), which impacts their ability to fully engage in treatment. Effective management of both conditions is hindered by siloed medical disciplines and health systems. HEAL Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) was funded in FY21 to test novel interventions for the management of co-occurring CP and OUD at the patient level. This initiative will test different implementation strategies and other approaches to address scalability and sustainability of evidence based practices for CP and OUD from a health system perspective. Studies will engage key decision leaders in health systems including but not limited to: peer specialists, clinicians, health system leaders, and payers. Studies will execute a single hybrid II/III implementation-effectiveness trial to focus on collaborative care models and implementation strategies to meaningfully integrate CP and OUD service provision in diverse health settings. These studies will address complex factors that influence the ability to scale and sustain effective and integrated care for CP and OUD. The BEACON Center will provide: (1) network coordination support, (2) capacity building at the intersection of CP, OUD, and implementation science, (3) annual surveys/qualitative activities to understand different barriers and attitudes impacting access and sustained use to integrated CP and OUD service delivery, (4) develop important resources for key stakeholder audiences that can inform/improve sustainability and scalability of evidence-based practices.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in partnership with National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research on the effective management of OUD and CP. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the U2C activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of CP management and OUD/opioid misuse are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in community-based participatory research approaches, implementation science, and other strategies to amplify scalability and sustainability will be encouraged and, these investigators should also begin considering applying for this NOFO. Grant authorities that allow NIDA to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 U.S.C. § 241 and § 284.