Substance Use Research and Population Health

There is growing recognition that substance use research in the United States has not always been attentive to the complexities of patterns of drug use and access to evidence-based interventions in relation to population health. In response, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has expanded its portfolio of extramurally funded research to address drug use and health outcomes experienced by disproportionately impacted populations.

This Research Topic seeks to advance scientific knowledge regarding population health in substance use research through the timely dissemination of cutting-edge research protocols. A range of research methods, including randomized clinical trials, observational studies, qualitative methods, and neuroimaging techniques, are critically needed to expand knowledge on substance use behaviors and intervention outcomes.

Research protocols that would align with this theme include, but are not limited to:

1. Designs that leverage existing administrative data systems to examine the roles of demographic, behavioral, psychosocial, clinical, and social measures on drug use patterns and drug use treatment outcomes
2. Protocols that integrate neurocognitive data and measures to better understand patterns of drug use
3. Randomized controlled trials of multilevel interventions to reduce drug use differences
4. Implementation studies that examine whether novel health care interventions can increase engagement in evidence-based treatment
5. Qualitative or mixed methods studies that give voice to persons who use drugs or persons with drug use disorders
6. Community-based participatory research approaches as a method to improve health

Please note that this Research Topic is only accepting research/study protocols, not papers that focus on empirical findings.

Keywords: Racial Equity, Ethnic Equity, Substance Use Research, Health Disparities, Structural Racism

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.