Mia A Navarro, Hélène Chokron Garneau, Hannah Cheng, Wayne Kepner, Fernando Ramirez, Maryam S Abdel Magid, Mark P McGovern
Although there is a significant increase in the number of implementation-focused studies, there are missed opportunities for the application of implementation science within substance-related treatment research. To be specific, intervention development, efficacy, and effectiveness studies could be enhanced to the Implementation Preparation category, and Implementation Preparation studies elevated to the Implementation Research category. Without significant budget impact, these methodological enhancements could accelerate the pace at which effective interventions for opioid and stimulant use disorders achieve public health impact.
BACKGROUND: While there is high demand for rapid translation of evidence-based innovations related to opioid and stimulant disorders, implementation research-proven to enhance utilization of evidence-based practices-comprises only a small portion of substance-related treatment studies.
METHODS: We conducted a mapping review of the National Institute on Drug Abuse investment in implementation-focused studies for opioid and stimulant use disorders treatment from 2020 through 2024. Replicating the same methodology, this review extends the work of Cheng et al. who examined funded studies on the same topic from 2015 to 2019. Data on opioid and stimulant addiction research studies were exported from the National Institutes of Health's Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools. Eligible studies specifically pertained to treatment and were categorized as Implementation Preparation, Implementation Research, or Not Implementation Research. Implementation Preparation and Research studies met inclusion criteria and underwent data extraction.
RESULTS: Among 856 studies, 194 (22.7%) met eligibility criteria and 61 (7.1%) met inclusion criteria. The number of implementation-focused studies was 38.6% greater than found in the Cheng et al. review. Implementation-focused studies peaked in 2019 and 2022, coinciding with the start of the National Institutes of Health Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative.
CONCLUSIONS: Although there is a significant increase in the number of implementation-focused studies, there are missed opportunities for the application of implementation science within substance-related treatment research. To be specific, intervention development, efficacy, and effectiveness studies could be enhanced to the Implementation Preparation category, and Implementation Preparation studies elevated to the Implementation Research category. Without significant budget impact, these methodological enhancements could accelerate the pace at which effective interventions for opioid and stimulant use disorders achieve public health impact.