Project Grant R01DA065307

The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded the University of Washington $1,469,150 on August 15, 2026, under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) to conduct research on the impact of recurring severe weather events on fatal and non-fatal opioid overdose.

The research integrates high spatiotemporal resolution datasets on severe weather—temperature, tropical cyclone, wildfire fine particulate matter, and wildfire disasters—with nationwide health datasets to examine the extent to which heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and wildfires increase opioid overdose risk. The project investigates how severe weather may affect people who use drugs through physiological impacts, stress, displacement and homelessness, reduced access to healthcare and harm reduction services, and interruption of opioid use disorder treatment. The work seeks to identify who is most affected—including examination of individual and community-level factors such as rurality, treatment access, and medication for opioid use disorder type—and to delineate mediating pathways that could support targeted policy interventions.

The University of Washington's Office of Sponsored Programs, administering the award through its Grant & Contracts Division, serves as the prime recipient. Performance occurs in Seattle, Washington, with a period of performance extending through May 31, 2031. This is a Project Grant assistance type supporting basic, clinical, translational, and implementation research in substance use as defined by the CFDA program.