Reducing Overdose and Substance Use-related Stigma by Training Non-substance-using Friends and Family Members of People Who Use Opioids to Be Harm Reduction Champions

Summary

Fatal opioid overdoses are more frequent among populations with low access to harm reduction (HR) services and with high substance use-related stigma (which is a major barrier to accessing HR services). One such population is older adults who use drugs (PWUD) on the West side of Chicago. Over 34% of Chicago's opioid-related EMS responses in 2023 were located in communities on the West side, but older adults in these communities access HR services at low rates, likely due to stigma and other barriers.

Shortened from the sponsor's brief summary. View official record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Conditions studied

• Opioid Overdose Prevention
• People Who Use Opioids/People With Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
• Reduction of Substance Use-related Stigma
• Non-substance-using People With a Friend or Family Member Who Uses Opioids
• Peer Harm Reduction Support Champions

Eligibility basics and study details

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Sponsor

University of Illinois at Chicago

Last updated on ClinicalTrials.gov

February 24, 2026

These are the basic criteria only. The full inclusion and exclusion criteria are on the official record, and the study team decides who can take part.

US recruiting sites