PI: Hohmann, Lindsey A
PROJECT SUMMARY
Opioid misuse continues to be a major public health issue in the United States. This is especially critical
in the Deep South where the opioid prescribing rate is disproportionately higher, with the state of Alabama
having the highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation. Furthermore, there are limited substance use dis-
order treatment facilities and naloxone access points in the Deep South. These scarce resources lead to dis-
parities and care gaps, with over 86% of people not receiving needed OUD therapy. It is critical to under-
stand which populations are most affected by this care gap as the first step in finding a solution.
Older adults and elderly (≥65 years), racial and ethnic minorities (Black, Latinx, and Indigenous),
and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) are at increased risk of harm from opi-
oids, underserved, and/or disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. Specifically, these individuals experi-
ence greater rates of OUD and barriers to accessing harm reduction services. Thus, it is crucial that
healthcare providers are aware of and address these specific disparities when treating vulnerable pop-
ulations. However, healthcare professionals lack training and awareness regarding opioid misuse harm
reduction strategies in these priority populations and may be influenced by stigmatizing attitudes. To address
this, the Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP) Center for Opioid Research, Education, and
Outreach (COACH) will host a series of three annual health professions conferences on June 20-21 in
2025, June 19-20 in 2026, and June 18-19 in 2027 focused on safe opioid use and harm reduction strategies
in older adult, racial and ethnic minority, and LGBTQ+ populations, respectively. The conferences will be lo-
cated in the HCOP auditorium in Auburn, AL (2025); University of South Alabama conference facility in Mobile,
AL (2026); and University of Alabama at Birmingham auditorium in Huntsville, AL (2027). This conference falls
under AHRQ’s “Dissemination and Implementation” conference type and has three objectives: 1) describe
current guidelines for safe opioid prescribing and harm reduction strategies; 2) apply safe opioid practices to
older adult, racial and ethnic minority, and LGBTQ+ patient cases; and 3) establish a network of interdiscipli-
nary healthcare professionals for future collaborative research, education, and outreach efforts in priority popu-
lations. Achievement of objectives will be assessed via pre- and post-conference surveys.
Impact: The proposed COACH conference aligns with AHRQ’s mission and priority area to improve
healthcare and patient safety for people who use opioids. The conference will result in formation of a net-
work of interdisciplinary healthcare providers focused on the opioid crisis, and findings will inform a future grant
submission to AHRQ (R03 PA-18-794) to pilot OUD initiation and retention strategies in vulnerable patients.
