## Our Work Is Changing Lives in Boston and Beyond The Grayken Center is a national leader in clinical care, research, policy, advocacy, training, and education related to substance use disorders. Our programs serve patients from birth through geriatric care, while our researchers, educators, and policy experts are helping to build the future of addiction medicine. [Meet Our Faculty and Staff](/departments/addiction-treatment-programs/our-team) #### 2,500 Patients Served Monthly We deliver care for patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults. #### 150+ Papers Published Yearly Our research publications help shape advances in addiction medicine. The Latest Policy & Advocacy Research Our Publications Education & Training ## Shaping the Future of Addiction Care From policy and research breakthroughs to real-world impact in addiction care, advocacy, and education, this is the latest from the Grayken Center for Addiction. [See Past News and Events](/all-news-and-events-grayken-center) ## Insights from Grayken Explore publications and perspectives from our team that explore how we’re shaping the future of addiction care. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/82872b4f-31dc-4886-9271-957c1e978d4a/iStock-909049012?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### [A New Look for a Life-Saving Resource](/all-news-and-events-grayken-center#generic-content-31922) The AHRQ Integration Academy has launched a fully redesigned version of its MOUD in Primary Care Playbook, now easier to navigate and more practical than ever. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/73a798a5-9169-4d83-bfdc-3bd9848d21d7/VGR00142-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:topleft&format=webp) ### [BMC Researchers Launch Toolkit to Address Rise in Stimulant-Related Overdoses](/news/bmc-researchers-launch-toolkit-address-rise-stimulant-related-overdoses) The new toolkit improved engagement among post-overdose survivors who used stimulants by nearly 15 percent. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/1b6f6d69-2ecd-49b1-b3a3-068610a47467/BMC_2025-105-1388?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### [Fighting Back Against Addiction Care Stigma Starts Close to Home](https://healthcity.bmc.org/fighting-back-against-addiction-care-stigma-starts-close-to-home/) Read HealthCity's recap of Grayken's third annual conference, Together for Hope 2026, which took place on April 29-30,2026 at the Hynes Convention Center. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/3ceb2191-20dd-412c-942e-744c1569fee7/IMG_6627?io=transform:fill,&format=webp) ### Grayken Center Receives 2025 Be Exceptional Award The Grayken Center core team received a 2025 BMC Be Exceptional Award, honoring their commitment to making addiction recovery more inclusive, effective, and celebrated. ## Advocating for Our Community Our experts are advocating for policy change that ensures everyone has access to treatment and support at every level of government. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/e6e88e08-a931-4e10-98a3-ffbc71ffffa2/Standard-JPG-Miriam_Overdose-Awareness-Day?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:top&format=webp) ### [Honoring Lives Lost at Overdose Awareness Day](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/boston-medical-center_for-the-first-time-we-are-seeing-the-overdose-activity-7367327731769942018-K04c/) In honor of Overdose Awareness Day, members of BMC’s Grayken Center for Addiction planted thousands of purple flags on Boston Common to commemorate those lost to overdose. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/ce1b70fe-21d3-4899-987a-7912e4fb7938/IMG_2504-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:top&format=webp) ### [Hear Our Testimony at the State House](https://bmcorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/kristopher_warren_bmc_org/EpfUKluICABIucn8PzBnMAEBbGHxljAwvv1PmnFyLNPAWA?e=7C6tz2) Drs. Sarah Bagley and Jessie Calihan spoke in support of a bill expanding naloxone access in Massachusetts schools, helping protect students from overdose risk. ## Research in Action Discover how Grayken researchers are advancing the field of addiction medicine through active, participant-driven studies. [Explore All Studies](/addiction/research-OLD) ## Selected Open Studies ![Sitting at the same table, the two male teenage friends talk during class.](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/2d2b7c90-75cc-4910-adc6-dc2b6691209d/Talk-to-Friends?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:top&format=png&quality=100) Now Enrolling### Youth Empowerment Study Grayken Center researchers are exploring how youth, families, and youth providers perceive overdose risk and drug use—including fentanyl—to help shape better prevention strategies. [Join the Study](mailto:Ally.Cogan@bmc.org) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/9aef548c-dd73-468b-b8fc-c7dd0c060d23/img_1813?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:center&format=png&quality=100) Now Enrolling### Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression (GRAIL) The GRAIL trial is testing whether gabapentin can help people with HIV who drink heavily and struggle with unsuppressed viral loads. The study aims to improve ART adherence and overall health outcomes. [Join the Study](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/research-studies/grail/) ## Changing Policy to Expand Access and Advance Recovery We work to ensure that everyone with a substance use disorder has access to effective, evidence-based treatment and support. Through policy analysis, systems advocacy, and strategic partnerships, we aim to dismantle barriers, reduce stigma, and drive change at the institutional, local, and national levels. Our work is grounded in a clear set of values: ### Equitable Access to Evidence-Based Care Everyone deserves the opportunity to receive high-quality, evidence-based treatment—regardless of race, income, or where they live. ### Treatment over Incarceration Prioritizing treatment over incarceration saves lives, strengthens communities, and supports long-term recovery. ### Harm Reduction to Save Lives Practical strategies, such as naloxone distribution and syringe services, keep people alive and engaged in care. ### Support for Affected Families We advocate for policies that strengthen services and resources for families affected by addiction. ### Empowerment through Lived Experience We elevate the voices of those who have experienced substance use disorder firsthand to inform policy and drive change. ## 2025–2026 Policy and Advocacy Priorities Our policy and advocacy work aims to change laws, regulations, and systems so more people can access effective treatment, find recovery, and live healthier lives. In 2025, we are focusing on five key areas where action can make the biggest impact—from expanding harm reduction to strengthening the addiction care workforce. ### Harm Reduction Is for Everyone Our goal is to protect and expand access to proven harm reduction services, including the option for cities and towns to open overdose prevention centers. At these evidence-based facilities, trained healthcare workers monitor participants for signs of overdose and intervene to prevent overdose death. These life-saving sites also connect individuals to treatment and other healthcare services. [Bring Overdose Prevention to Your Community](https://ma4opc.org/) ### Equitable Access to Evidence-Based Treatment We aim to remove barriers to methadone—a highly effective, evidence-based treatment—by allowing access beyond opioid treatment programs (OTPs); and destigmatize its use by integrating methadone into the prescription drug monitoring program and expanding access through the state’s OTP dosing registry. This will help reduce barriers that limit patient freedom and recovery. ### Access to Naloxone in Educational Settings Drug overdose is the third leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents. Ensuring schools and colleges have naloxone, overdose education, and recovery support empowers students and staff to act quickly, save lives, and connect people to care. [Help Put Naloxone in Every School ](https://www.bmc.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/Youth%20Narcan%20Access%20One%20Pager.pdf) ### Treatment, not Incarceration Incarceration does not provide long-term recovery care. Instead, it often creates additional barriers by saddling people with criminal records that make it harder to find housing, employment, and stability, preventing true reintegration into society. Reforming parole and probation rules would mean that a return to substance use during treatment is met with more care, not incarceration. [See How Probation Orders Can Align With Addiction Science](https://www.aclum.org/en/legislation/treatment-not-imprisonment) ### Strengthening the Addiction Workforce We’re building the future of addiction care by advocating for loan repayment for substance use disorder clinicians and community health workers, and the expansion of Medicare-supported residency slots in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry. These investments attract and retain skilled professionals, expand services to underserved areas, and ensure patients can access timely, high-quality care. [Learn More About Loan Repayment Initiatives](https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/funding/star-loan-repayment-fact-sheet.pdf) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/7d8df616-78f9-47d9-8d7a-58db0f29a83c/VGR01010-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:bottom&format=webp) ## How You Can Get Involved Whether you’re a **policymaker**, **Boston Medical Center staff member**, **patient**, or **community advocate**, we’d love to connect. The Grayken Center welcomes partners from all backgrounds who are committed to improving addiction care through policy change. [Email the Grayken Center](mailto:Grayken.Center@bmc.org) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/90184bd8-934f-4892-a0a6-0581d9a0ca84/IMG_1042-Enhanced-NR-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) ## Events and Stories Shaping Recovery From policy wins to community action, the Grayken Center’s work is shaping the future of addiction care. Explore stories, milestones, and events that highlight the progress we’re making together. [See What’s New](/all-news-and-events-grayken-center) ## Addiction Research The Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center conducts high-quality research that broadens and deepens our understanding of addiction treatment and care delivery, so successful approaches can be extended to more patients in need. At BMC, we’re increasing the pace of innovative research and evaluating new models of care delivery to create pathways to long-term recovery throughout the healthcare system. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/2d2b7c90-75cc-4910-adc6-dc2b6691209d/Talk-to-Friends?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) Featured Research## Youth Empowerment Study The Youth Empowerment Study aims to understand the perceptions of overdose risk among youth, families, and youth providers. Specifically, we are looking at how overdose risk is affected by the changing drug supply and how youth use drugs (including intentional or unintentional fentanyl use), and how to adapt or develop overdose prevention strategies for youth. [Learn More about Our Study](mailto:Ally.Cogan@bmc.org) ## Sort Research by Category Explore each research category using the tabs below. Each tab expands into different subtopics with brief summaries, active studies, and contact information. Prevention & Treatment Health & Co-Occurring Conditions Health Equity Families, Pregnancy, & Youth Prevention & Treatment Health & Co-Occurring Conditions Health Equity Families, Pregnancy, & Youth ## Harm Reduction Our research efforts focus on evidence-based practice approaches that aim to reduce the health and social harms of drug use by meeting patients where they are. ### Harm Reduction Policies and Practice in Massachusetts Homeless Shelters Overdose remains the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness. Harm reduction practices can improve engagement with people who use drugs and decrease chance of fatal overdose, but attitudes and policies regarding substance use can vary widely between shelters. We seek to describe the range of harm reduction policies in place in shelters in Massachusetts by interviewing shelter staff and guests in four shelters in four communities across the state. We also plan to develop a set of practical harm reduction best practices as well as promising future practices for shelter-based harm reduction based on interviews with staff and guests. Contact Avik Chatterjee, MD, the study principal investigator at for more information. ## Motivational Interviewing MI is a person-centered, collaborative approach that strengthens readiness for change and improves engagement in care—including after hospital discharge—to lower overdose risk. ### RETAIN Pilot RETAIN is a longitudinal study evaluating an adapted intervention of recovery management checkups for patients with serious infections from injecting drugs. Participants in the intervention receive motivational interviewing and connections to desired care services for six months after discharge from the hospital. This study is currently enrolling participants. Contact Andrew Rolles at for more information. ### Repeated-dose Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Opioid Overdose: A Two-Site Randomized-Controlled Efficacy Trial (REBOOT) REBOOT is a longitudinal study aimed at determining the efficacy of a motivational interviewing behavioral intervention to reduce opioid overdoses rates for survivors of overdoses. Contact Sarah Kosakowski at for more information. ## Overdose Our overdose work centers on prevention, clear info about the drug supply, and hands-on support after an overdose, so more people stay safe and connected to care. ### Youth Empowerment Study The Youth Empowerment Study aims to understand the perceptions of overdose risk among youth, families, and youth providers. Specifically, we are looking at how overdose risk is affected by the changing drug supply and how youth use drugs (including intentional or unintentional fentanyl use), and how to adapt or develop overdose prevention strategies for youth. This study is currently enrolling participants. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### A Universal Primary Care Based Intervention to Reduce Youth Overdose Risk This study aims to develop and evaluate an overdose prevention intervention for youth that will increase: - Awareness of the risks of fentanyl and the drug supply - Knowledge of strategies to reduce overdose risk - Recognition and awareness of how to respond to an overdose We will develop the intervention with the help of a community advisory board, then evaluate through a randomized control trial with four providers and 20 youth recruited from BMC Family Medicine and Pediatrics. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### PRONTO Stimulants PRONTO Stimulants aims to develop an effective toolkit of adaptations to help post-overdose programs better identify and engage with people who use cocaine or methamphetamine. The project focuses on Native, Black, Latino, Hispanic, and youth populations because those populations are disproportionately affected by cocaine or methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths in the United States and are not historically reached by outreach programs. Frontline staff members of the eleven POST programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, met in focus groups to develop this toolkit, which has more than 20 adaptations. Following toolkit dissemination and implementation, we conducted qualitative interviews and distributed surveys to assess the effectiveness of these toolkit items and their implementation. The findings of this study from this study are ongoing. Please visit our [website](https://prontopostoverdose.org/) or contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### HEALing Communities Study BMC has the distinction of being the recipient of the largest grant awarded by the US government to combat the opioid epidemic. Scientists from the nation’s leading health agencies and four major academic institutions partnered with communities in four states to test a set of interventions to combat the opioid crisis. The Massachusetts team was led by Grayken faculty member Dr. Jeffrey Samet, Chief of BMC’s Section of General Internal Medicine. The study website shows the communities that partnered with BMC to implement measures that are aimed at drastically cutting deaths from opioid overdose in the next few years. Learn more about the [HEALing Communities Study](/node/174270) or contact Natalia Gnatienko, MPH at for more information. ### Inequities in Buprenorphine Initiation, Engagement, Retention Among Patients at Boston Medical Center Opioid overdose deaths continue to accelerate with a disproportionate rise among individuals from historically marginalized groups, especially individuals who are Black, Latino or Indigenous. In addition, these groups exhibit lower receipt of buprenorphine, a key medication in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), relative to white individuals. Similar patterns emerge at the neighborhood-level. For example, research has identified associations between neighborhood-level race, ethnicity, and income with rates of treatment with buprenorphine and other medications for OUD (MOUD). This study leveraged the Data 4 Equity (D4E) platform, an effort by the BU CTSI Biomedical Informatics Core to strengthen geo-spatial and health disparities research at BUMC, with the aim to describe individual and neighborhood-level disparities in buprenorphine receipt for BMC patients using D4E. It generated the preliminary work needed for a larger proposal involving more robust geo-spatial analyses of disparities in buprenorphine treatment at BMC. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ## Prevention Prevention research at the Grayken Center designs and tests practical strategies to lower substance use and overdose risk before a crisis occurs, focusing on high-risk windows and populations. ### Substance Use Prevention for Recently Displaced Adults (SUPRA) The war in Ukraine has triggered the world’s largest current humanitarian displacement, forcing over 13 million people from their homes. While conflict can worsen substance use, little is known about its incidence and prevalence in countries affected by war, like Ukraine, making it difficult to design effective prevention efforts for displaced populations. To close this gap, our team will partner with Ukrainian experts and communities to survey displaced Ukrainians and, based on the findings, develop and test a prevention program using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). We aim to create an effective, scalable approach to support mental health and prevent substance use disorders in humanitarian settings. Contact Ve Truong at for more information. ### Youth Empowerment Study The Youth Empowerment Study aims to understand the perceptions of overdose risk among youth, families, and youth providers. Specifically, we are looking at how overdose risk is affected by the changing drug supply and how youth use drugs (including intentional or unintentional fentanyl use), and how to adapt or develop overdose prevention strategies for youth. This study is currently enrolling participants. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### HEAL Initiative: Preventing Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adolescents and Young Adults Disorders The HEAL Prevention Cooperative is a multi-site NIH Initiative aiming to make evidence-based preventive intervention services available and accessible to all persons who experience risk for opioid and other substance misuse or disorder. At BMC, in conjunction with MGH, the team is conducting a naturalistic longitudinal observational study assessing the impact of treatment of psychopathology (mental health disorders) on the development of OUD, SUD, and nicotine use disorders in young people (16 to 30 years) who engage in behavioral health treatments. Contact Adriana Salome at for more information. ### HEALing Communities Study BMC has the distinction of being the recipient of the largest grant awarded by the US government to combat the opioid epidemic. Scientists from the nation’s leading health agencies and four major academic institutions partnered with communities in four states to test a set of interventions to combat the opioid crisis. The Massachusetts team was led by Grayken faculty member Dr. Jeffrey Samet, Chief of BMC’s Section of General Internal Medicine. The study website shows the communities that partnered with BMC to implement measures that are aimed at drastically cutting deaths from opioid overdose in the next few years. Learn more about the [HEALing Communities Study](/node/174270) or contact Natalia Gnatienko, MPH at for more information. ## Treatment The Grayken Center's treatment work pairs community partnership with real-world research to close gaps in addiction care. Together, these efforts aim to improve retention, reduce overdose risk, and sustain long-term recovery. ### Embracing Anti-Racism in Addiction Treatment, Research, and Policy Convening The Substance Use and Anti-racism (SUDA) Research Program launched at the end of spring 2021. It is a community-engaged process to improve addiction treatment for Black patients. The guiding question is, “How can we make addiction treatment more appealing, effective, and equitable for Black patients?” In the earliest phase of the project, researchers integrated a range of methods, including focus groups with Black patients who have substance-related problems and live in the neighborhoods surrounding BMC, and six scoping literature reviews to understand key factors that shape Black people’s experiences of addiction treatment. This later led to the next phase funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. To learn more about this research, [click here](https://www.bmc.org/research/embracing-antiracism-addiction-treatment-research-and-policy) or contact Daneiris Heredia-Perez at . ### Impact of Initial Buprenorphine Prescribing Strategies on Retention in Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder Treatment of opioid use disorder with the medication buprenorphine reduces risk of opioid overdose mortality, but poor retention in care limits this medication’s protective effect. This proposal will use large observational data to examine the relationship between buprenorphine dosage strategies and retention by: 1) describing current buprenorphine dosage practices in terms of dosage trajectories, 2) comparing the effect of two distinct buprenorphine dosage strategies on retention, and 3) estimating the impact of improved buprenorphine dosage practices on retention and overdose for the state of Massachusetts. This proposal has the potential to identify improved buprenorphine dosage strategies that increase retention in care, a key pillar in reversing the opioid overdose epidemic. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### Office-Based Methadone Versus Buprenorphine to Address Retention in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment This randomized clinical trial aims determine whether office-based methadone with pharmacy administration and/or dispensing or office-based buprenorphine results in greater treatment retention in approximately 600 patients with opioid use disorder. This trial will also identify implementation barriers, facilitators and acceptability at the patient, provider and health systems level for office-based methadone with pharmacy administration and/or dispensing. BMC has been selected as one of the six sites and the project is being implemented in our office based addiction treatment clinic. Please visit our [website](https://ctnlibrary.org/protocol/ctn0131-2/) or contact for more information. ### Sustaining Recovery for People on Opioid Agonist Treatment with Conversational Agents Almost half of all people receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder discontinue treatment within the first year, due to substance use and medication stigma and other recovery challenges such as stress, emotional dysregulation, and social isolation. This study aims to improve retention in buprenorphine treatment through a smartphone-delivered, stigma-informed recovery support intervention that uses embodied conversational agents (ECA), i.e., animated computer agents that simulate natural and intuitive face-to-face conversations. The ECA will deliver an acceptance-based intervention originating in cognitive-behavioral therapy to help participants overcome negative thoughts and emotions related to internalized substance use and intervention stigma. Intervention group participants will be engaged in ECA use with different strategies to maximize uptake and compared to 25 control participants receiving usual care at the BMC office–based addiction treatment clinic. By addressing stigma and recovery challenges, this intervention can help improve buprenorphine treatment retention and support long-term recovery from opioid-use disorder. For more information, call 857.895.6486 or email . ### The Alcohol Disorder Hospital Treatment (ADOPT) Study The ADOPT study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of extended-release injectable naltrexone to oral naltrexone initiated at the time of hospital discharge for reducing heavy drinking among general medical inpatients with alcohol use disorder. Information on the study can be found [here](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02478489), in addition to the following publications: - [Cannabis and Cocaine Use, Drinking Outcomes, and Quality of Life in General Hospital Inpatients with Alcohol use Disorder](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1080/08897077.2022.2074592?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed) - [Correlates of Post-hospitalization Naltrexone Adherence for Alcohol Use Disorder](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871624013954?via%3Dihub) - [Oral vs Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone for Hospitalized Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2832702) Contact Kara Magane at for further information. ## HIV/AIDS Our HIV research targets the drivers of health and treatment success—including comorbidities— as well as testing medications and supports that boost engagement, adherence, and viral suppression. ### Tuberculosis, Alcohol, and Lung Comorbidities (TALC) Our TALC study investigates hazardous alcohol use as a modifiable risk factor for post-tuberculosis (TB) lung disease in people with HIV (PWH). This 18-month observational study will follow 200 patients completing TB treatment in Mbarara, Uganda. In a two-part approach, we will first assess the relationship between alcohol use and post-TB lung disease and then explore how to tailor alcohol and smoking interventions for patients undergoing TB treatment. Learn more about TALC [here](https://sites.bu.edu/urbanarch/) or contact Lydia Carlson, MPH, at for more information. ### Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression (GRAIL) Ending the HIV epidemic depends on helping people with HIV (PWH) reach and maintain an undetectable HIV viral load. Unhealthy alcohol use is a common barrier that affects every step of HIV care, lowering antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and reducing the success of treatment as prevention (TasP). Addressing alcohol use is essential to helping PWH stay engaged in care and achieve viral suppression. The Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression (GRAIL) trial will test whether gabapentin can help PWH who drink heavily and continue to have unsuppressed HIV at least six months after diagnosis. The goal is to determine if reducing alcohol use with gabapentin can improve HIV care engagement, boost ART adherence, and ultimately achieve viral load suppression. Enrollment for this study is currently open. Learn more about GRAIL [here](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/research-studies/grail/) or contact Ve Truong at for more information. ### Improving Physician Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain in HIV-infected Persons The "Targeting Effective Analgesia in Clinics for HIV" (TEACH) Study RCT tested whether a collaborative care intervention for physicians improves the delivery of chronic opioid therapy for HIV-infected persons. [Learn more about TEACH](https://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-DA037768-01) ### Targeting HIV Comorbidities with Pharmacotherapy to Reduce Alcohol and Tobacco Use in HIV-infected Russians The St PETER HIV trial compared the effects of two nicotinic receptor partial agonists, varenicline and cytisine, on alcohol consumption, alcohol craving, smoking, inflammation, CHD risk and mortality risk. [Learn more about St PETER](https://sites.bu.edu/urbanarch/st-peter-hiv/), read our [publication on the study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11856725/), or contact Natalia Gnatienko, MPH at for more information. ### TB, HIV, and Aging in Uganda 50-over-50 (THAU 50/50) THAU 50/50 was an observational, cross-sectional study that examined key differences between 50 people with HIV (PWH) without a history of tuberculosis (TB) to 50 participants from our tuberculosis, alcohol, and lung comorbidities (TALC) study who have a history of TB and have HIV. The study explored how alcohol use, aging, and TB impact frailty and social vulnerability in people with HIV, with an aim of better understanding the care needs and health priorities of both groups in order to more effectively support them. Learn more about [THAU 50/50](https://sites.bu.edu/urbanarch/) here or contact Lydia Carlson, MPH, at for more information. ## Homelessness We co-design shelter harm reduction policies for shelters and tools to reduce overdoses and improve engagement in care for people experiencing homelessness. ### Harm Reduction Policies and Practice in Massachusetts Homeless Shelters Overdose remains the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness. Harm reduction practices can improve engagement with people who use drugs and decrease chance of fatal overdose, but attitudes and policies regarding substance use can vary widely between shelters. We seek to describe the range of harm reduction policies in place in shelters in Massachusetts by interviewing shelter staff and guests in 4 shelters in 4 communities across the state. We also plan to develop a set of practical harm reduction best practices as well as promising future practices for shelter-based harm reduction based on interviews with staff and guests. Contact Avik Chatterjee, MD, the study principal investigator at for more information. ## Mental Health Our mental health research develops practical, culturally responsive approaches to address depression, anxiety, trauma, and co-occurring substance use. ### Substance Use Prevention for Recently Displaced Adults (SUPRA) The war in Ukraine has triggered the world’s largest current humanitarian displacement, forcing over 13 million people from their homes. While conflict can worsen substance use, little is known about its incidence and prevalence in countries affected by war, like Ukraine, making it difficult to design effective prevention efforts for displaced populations. To close this gap, our team will partner with Ukrainian experts and communities to survey displaced Ukrainians and, based on the findings, develop and test a prevention program using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). We aim to create an effective, scalable approach to support mental health and prevent substance use disorders in humanitarian settings. Contact Ve Truong at for more information. ## Tuberculosis Our TB research focuses on long-term lung health—especially where TB intersects with HIV, alcohol use, smoking, and aging. ### Tuberculosis, Alcohol, and Lung Comorbidities (TALC) Our TALC study investigates hazardous alcohol use as a modifiable risk factor for post-tuberculosis (TB) lung disease in people with HIV (PWH). This 18-month observational study will follow 200 patients completing TB treatment in Mbarara, Uganda. In a two-part approach, we will first assess the relationship between alcohol use and post-TB lung disease and then explore how to tailor alcohol and smoking interventions for patients undergoing TB treatment. Learn more about TALC [here](https://sites.bu.edu/urbanarch/) or contact Lydia Carlson, MPH, at for more information. ### TB, HIV, and Aging in Uganda 50-over-50 (THAU 50/50) THAU 50/50 was an observational, cross-sectional study that examined key differences between 50 people with HIV (PWH) without a history of tuberculosis (TB) to 50 participants from our tuberculosis, alcohol, and lung comorbidities (TALC) study who have a history of TB and have HIV. The study explored how alcohol use, aging, and TB impact frailty and social vulnerability in people with HIV, with an aim of better understanding the care needs and health priorities of both groups in order to more effectively support them. Learn more about [THAU 50/50](https://sites.bu.edu/urbanarch/) here or contact Lydia Carlson, MPH, at for more information. ### Embracing Anti-Racism in Addiction Treatment, Research, and Policy Convening The Substance Use and Anti-racism (SUDA) Research Program launched at the end of spring 2021. It is a community-engaged process to improve addiction treatment for Black patients. The guiding question is, “How can we make addiction treatment more appealing, effective, and equitable for Black patients?” In the earliest phase of the project, researchers integrated a range of methods, including focus groups with Black patients who have substance-related problems and live in the neighborhoods surrounding BMC, and six scoping literature reviews to understand key factors that shape Black people’s experiences of addiction treatment. This later led to the next phase funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. To learn more about this research, [click here](/node/172496) or contact Daneiris Heredia-Perez at . ### HEALing Communities Study BMC has the distinction of being the recipient of the largest grant awarded by the US government to combat the opioid epidemic. Scientists from the nation’s leading health agencies and four major academic institutions partnered with communities in four states to test a set of interventions to combat the opioid crisis. The Massachusetts team was led by Grayken faculty member Dr. Jeffrey Samet, Chief of BMC’s Section of General Internal Medicine. The study website shows the communities that partnered with BMC to implement measures that are aimed at drastically cutting deaths from opioid overdose in the next few years. [Learn more about the HEALing Communities Study](/node/174270) or contact Natalia Gnatienko, MPH at for more information. ### Inequities in Buprenorphine Initiation, Engagement, Retention Among Patients at BMC Opioid overdose deaths continue to accelerate with a disproportionate rise among individuals from historically marginalized groups, especially individuals who are Black, Latino or Indigenous. In addition, these groups exhibit lower receipt of buprenorphine, a key medication in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), relative to white individuals. Similar patterns emerge at the neighborhood-level. For example, research has identified associations between neighborhood-level race, ethnicity, and income with rates of treatment with buprenorphine and other medications for OUD (MOUD). This study leveraged the Data 4 Equity (D4E) platform, an effort by the BU CTSI Biomedical Informatics Core to strengthen geo-spatial and health disparities research at BUMC, with the aim to describe individual and neighborhood-level disparities in buprenorphine receipt for BMC patients using D4E. It generated the preliminary work needed for a larger proposal involving more robust geo-spatial analyses of disparities in buprenorphine treatment at BMC. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### Racism, Not Race: a Quantitative Analysis of the Use of “Race” and “Racism” in the Addiction Literature Racism plays a unique role in the way that substance use and addiction are conceptualized and treated in the United States. Yet it is known from a prior study that medical journals are unlikely to name “racism” even when the same article mentions “race.” We sought to repeat this analysis among addiction medicine journals, hypothesizing that articles in addiction medicine journals would be more likely to discuss both race and racism. Analyzing articles in the past 30 years in five prominent addiction medicine journals, we found that race was mentioned not uncommonly, but that racism was mentioned vanishingly rarely, in less than 1% of articles. In our paper, we argue that this enforced ignorance on the topic of racism in addiction contributes to racialized policies and treatment systems. Contact Spender Dunleavy, MD, the study principal investigator, at for more information. ## Pregnancy & Parenting Our research supports healthy pregnancies, postpartum recovery, and early parenting for families affected by substance use. ### Supporting the Implementation of a Parenting Intervention for Mothers with Substance Use Disorder in the Pediatric Medical Home Children of mothers with substance use disorder (SUD) constitute a growing and highly vulnerable population. The SOFAR pediatric medical home for families and children impacted by SUDs, with integrated behavioral health (IBH), provides an opportune setting for addressing the needs of mothers and children impacted by SUDs. While many families are thriving in the program, there is a strong unmet need for evidence-based parent-training interventions, particularly during the preschool period. The current study aims to evaluate the implementation of a brief, parent child interaction therapy (PCIT)-based intervention, entitled THRIVE, that will be offered in the SOFAR Clinic at Boston Medical Center. THRIVE is a safe, six-session telehealth intervention that has been tested in pediatric and community-based settings. This study is currently enrolling participants. Please contact Mei Elansary at for more information. ### RESPECT Perinatal Substance Use Research Group More than 120 babies are born at BMC each year to women with opioid use disorders. Researchers in the Departments of Pediatrics & Obstetrics and Gynecology are busy discovering new and better treatments for these vulnerable infants, many of whom are develop Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). All babies born to with in-utero opioid exposure are monitored as inpatients for 5-7 days for symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The most recent available data suggest that twelve percent of all NAS babies in the state are cared for by BMC. The RESPECT Research Group is learning about the short-term medical and long-term developmental outcomes of treating these newborns with different pharmacologic regimens. The groundbreaking studies conducted by the RESPECT Research Group are resulting in many publications, leading the way to higher quality, more personalized care for babies exposed to opioids during pregnancy. Recent studies and publications have focused on the impact of buprenorphine or naltrexone treatment on NAS outcomes, the impact of genetic variants on NAS outcomes, the influence of clinical factors such as prematurity and breastfeeding on NAS outcomes, and the importance of non-pharmacologic care on NAS outcomes. [Learn more about RESPECT](/node/3510) ### The SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative The SAFEST (SBIRT and FASD Education, Support, and Technical assistance) Choice Learning Collaborative is a national educational program that aims to reduce the incidence of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and improve outcomes in children with suspected or diagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). SAFEST Choice uses a Project ECHO virtual education model to train interdisciplinary pediatric and prenatal health care teams on how to screen for and counsel patients about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy, and how to identify and care for children and adolescents with suspected or diagnosed FASD. [Learn more about the SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative](https://safestchoice.org/) or contact Jackie German at for more information. ## Youth Our youth research works to prevent overdoses before they happen. We test primary care programs that teach fentanyl risk, safer use, and overdose response, and study how mental health treatment shapes substance use trajectories. ### Youth Empowerment Study The Youth Empowerment Study aims to understand the perceptions of overdose risk among youth, families, and youth providers. Specifically, we are looking at how overdose risk is affected by the changing drug supply and how youth use drugs (including intentional or unintentional fentanyl use), and how to adapt or develop overdose prevention strategies for youth. This study is currently enrolling participants. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### A Universal Primary Care Based Intervention to Reduce Youth Overdose Risk This study aims to develop and evaluate an overdose prevention intervention for youth that will increase: - Awareness of the risks of fentanyl and the drug supply - Knowledge of strategies to reduce overdose risk - Recognition and awareness of how to respond to an overdose We will develop the intervention with the help of a community advisory board, then evaluate through a randomized control trial with four providers and 20 youth recruited from BMC Family Medicine and Pediatrics. Contact Ally Cogan at for more information. ### HEAL Initiative: Preventing Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adolescents and Young Adults Disorders The HEAL Prevention Cooperative is a multi-site NIH Initiative aiming to make evidence-based preventive intervention services available and accessible to all persons who experience risk for opioid and other substance misuse or disorder. At BMC, in conjunction with MGH, the team is conducting a naturalistic longitudinal observational study assessing the impact of treatment of psychopathology (mental health disorders) on the development of OUD, SUD, and nicotine use disorders in young people (16 to 30 years) who engage in behavioral health treatments. Contact Adriana Salome at for more information. ## Meet Researchers Changing the Future of Addiction Treatment Grayken Center faculty represent a wide variety of departments across the hospital, from primary care to pediatrics to infectious diseases. Learn more about some of our faculty members who have recently received awards or published papers. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/a2c18cfe-a3eb-4a39-b164-4e082e2ecdd8/Kaku-So-Armah?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) Featured Researcher## Kaku So-Armah, PhD, Received the Boston University 2025 Annual School Award for Community Service and Engagement Kaku So-Armah, PhD, an associate professor of medicine at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, was the recipient of the Boston University 2025 Annual School Award for Community Service and Engagement. So-Armah’s research in the Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit focuses on finding effective, sustainable cardiovascular disease risk reduction strategies for people with HIV in resource-limited settings. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/0fc662cf-1dfb-4569-a71c-dbd34e463bce/Avik-Chatterjee-MD-MPH-GIM?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) Featured Researcher## In the Spotlight: Dr. Chatterjee on Boston’s Mass and Cass Strategy Shift Avik Chatterjee, MD, an addiction specialist at BMC and associate professor of medicine at BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, was quoted in a [WBUR article](https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/02/10/mass-and-cass-addiction-boston-strategy-treatment-change) about a shift in official strategy for Boston's "Mass. and Cass" neighborhood. In the article, Chatterjee shared his opinions on the city's restrictions on clean needle distribution and the possible negative effects. ## Grayken Center Publications As part of our commitment to advancing addiction medicine and improving the lives of people with substance use disorders, the Grayken Center offers a bimonthly newsletter, podcast, and an open-access journal that share the latest research and perspectives on substance use and health. All of our publications are free to read and subscribe. ### Open-access Journal ## Addiction Science & Clinical Practice *Addiction Science & Clinical Practice* provides a forum for research and perspectives that help improve care for people affected by alcohol, tobacco, drug use, and other addictive behaviors. Each quarter, we also feature lessons from the Grayken Clinical Addiction Case Conference, where fellows explore real clinical questions and review the latest literature. *ASCP’s editors-in-chief are Jeffrey H. Samet, MD, and Emily C. Williams, PhD.* [Explore the Journal](https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/) ## Recent Articles ![An unrecognizable mother and her teen daughter argue about the teen's boundaries.](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/eee5be75-4f5e-4728-bb21-7961b5a30864/1273041035?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:top&format=png&quality=100) Longitudinal Study### Trajectories of Medication Implementation for OUD in Primary Care Researchers studied strategies and outcomes for expanding medications for opioid use disorder in 95 primary care clinics. [Implementation Strategies](https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13722-025-00600-y) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/23f9fb59-9808-496a-9de5-dcaf07826377/Recovery-Field-Day-Moakley-Green_IMG_5977-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:center&format=png&quality=100) Qualitative Study### Perspectives on Words to Describe People Who Use Drugs This study surveyed clinicians and people who use drugs to examine the usage of stigmatizing language in healthcare settings. [Explore Words We Use](https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13722-025-00591-w) ![African American Video Conferencing With Doctor. Online Telemedicine](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/bf7523b4-4eea-4de4-b04f-a3f707ff9dc7/iStock-1276732125-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:center&format=png&quality=100) Qualitative Study### “It Beats the Hell out of Going to a Hospital” This study focuses on determining the acceptability of telemedicine-based, symptom-triggered alcohol withdrawal management and refining intervention procedures. [See How Care Is Evolving](https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13722-025-00585-8) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/4bb06d05-4bac-47e3-80b5-e6e7d6ded30b/925426264?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) ASCP Ongoing Series## Grayken Lessons: A multidisciplinary approach to care for a patient with severe ketamine use disorder A young woman with severe ketamine use disorder demonstrated symptoms of gastrointestinal toxicity and ketamine-induced uropathy. Her team implemented a multidisciplinary care plan that included referrals for physical complications and mental health conditions driving the ketamine use. This care plan led to a reduction in ketamine use for a period of time raising awareness of non-medical ketamine use and associated harms. [See All Grayken Lessons](https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/GraykenLessons) ### Free Bimonthly Newsletter ## Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current Evidence *Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health* is a free newsletter featuring summaries and expert commentary on the latest clinically relevant research on substance use and health. For nearly 25 years, *AOD Health* has been clinicians’ go-to resource for practical insights to support patient care, training, and research. *AOD Health’s editors-in-chief are David A. Fiellin, MD, and Miriam S. Komaromy, MD.* [Explore the Newsletter](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/) ## Recent Article Summaries ![Hematology Service Line Photoshoot Nov 2023](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/77927eec-fb00-4d43-96d3-15e9f33fa08c/IMG_3372-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:center&format=png&quality=100) Clinical Trial### Naltrexone for AUD Initiated at Hospital Discharge Research confirmed that naltrexone decreases heavy drinking days and that initiating either oral or injectable naltrexone at hospital discharge is both feasible and effective. [How Naltrexone Supports Recovery](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/2025/08/14/both-oral-and-extended-release-injectable-naltrexone-effective-for-alcohol-use-disorder-when-initiated-at-hospital-discharge/) ![A woman sits up in a hospital bed wearing a gown as she talks with her male doctor about her surgery. The doctor is taking notes electronically on a tablet as the two talk about the procedure.](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/d8c23c7b-af6a-4488-94c2-5e2c6319dcfc/iStock-2158419735?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:top&format=png&quality=100) Observational Study### Hospital Addiction Consult Services Improve Outcomes for People with SUD This study found that consultation by a hospital addiction consult service was associated with increased rates of initiation and continuation of medications for opioid and alcohol use disorder, and decreased rates of 30-day hospital readmission. [Listen to a Conversation with the First Author](https://rss.com/podcasts/behindtheevidence/1195128/) ![Midwives Clinic and Postpartum](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/7f619a61-47f6-4c69-a9e3-656a82d3554a/8I0A4804?io=transform:fill,width:510,height:200,gravity:center&format=png&quality=100) Observational Study### Buprenorphine Dose in Pregnant Patients with OUD Findings show that buprenorphine should be continued in patients with OUD who are pregnant and postpartum, though the dose may require adjustment. [Insights on Dose Adjustment](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/2025/08/14/two-studies-investigate-the-impact-of-buprenorphine-dose-and-duration-among-pregnant-patients-with-opioid-use-disorder/) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/c6dc6fd5-4c28-4b6f-b048-abb92f1ee23a/BTE-cover-Grayken?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) Podcast## Behind the Evidence Hosted by addiction medicine specialists Honora L. Englander, MD, and Marc R. Larochelle, MD, *Behind the Evidence* features thoughtful discussions of recent, influential publications in clinical addiction research. Through author interviews and expert insights, it appeals to clinicians and anyone interested in the latest developments in addiction medicine. The latest issue of the Grayken Center for Addiction's free newsletter, Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Health: Current Evidence, is now available online at [www.aodhealth.org](http://www.aodhealth.org/). Since 2004, AODH has been clinicians' trusted source for the latest evidence-based, clinically relevant substance use research. Out now: Episode five of “Behind the Masthead,” a special series of the Grayken Center’s Behind the Evidence podcast! Our guest is Kalina Fahey, PhD, a postdoctoral substance use researcher. Dr Fahey spoke with guest host Casy Calver about the ways in which equity-focused early-career researchers are building skills and maintaining the momentum of their work within the confines of the current federal funding landscape. [Click here](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/podcast/) to listen, or search for Behind the Evidence on any podcast platform. [Listen Now](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/podcast/) ## Grayken Publications News and Events From webinars and workshops, to calls for papers and applications, explore our upcoming opportunities and announcements below. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/77be0948-279e-4b08-b777-7d411b129a0e/BehindTheMasthead_Podcast?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### [Listen to “Behind the Masthead,” a Special Series of the Behind the Evidence Podcast](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/podcast/) In this special series, Casy Calver, PhD, talks to addiction journal editors and other experts on the impact of changes to federal funding of medical and public health research. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/d479917c-5c29-4c3c-a011-d9cc87b59805/ASCP_Grayken_Dark?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### [Call for Papers: Innovative Approaches to Promoting Equity in Addiction Treatment](https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/bfwi) ASCP is calling for submissions focused on innovative approaches to SUD treatment initiation and care that extend beyond traditional clinical contexts. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/c0cd51c2-1c4e-49cb-b9e6-eee44fd6f078/AOD-Health_Intern?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### [Meet the 2025 ACAAM/AOD Health Rich Saitz Editorial Intern: John Fomeche, MD](https://www.bu.edu/aodhealth/editorial-board/) We are pleased that Yale addiction medicine fellow John Fomeche, MD, is the 2025 Rich Saitz Editorial Intern! Fomeche will write article summaries and literature searches. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/132142af-b523-4e9c-a0e6-9e527ce5f326/ASCP_PrEP?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### [Explore ASCP’s Special Series: Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for People Who Use Drugs](https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/PPPD) This series highlights PrEP access barriers and facilitators for people who use drugs, and novel models for improving PrEP care for diverse, substance-abuse-impacted populations. ## Recent Publications by Grayken Faculty - Dopp, A. R., Weir, R. L., Hindmarch, G. M., Pak, L., Mendon-Plasek, S., Schoenbaum, M., Christensen, J., Carrejo, V., Bonham, C., Komaromy, M., & Watkins, K. E. (2026). Reimbursement Potential of Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Billing Codes for Opioid Use Disorder Co-Occurring with Mental Disorders: Descriptive Estimates from a Pragmatic Trial. Administration and policy in mental health, 10.1007/s10488-026-01503-z. Advance online publication. , - J. L., & Samet, J. H. (2022). Opioid Use Disorder. Annals of internal medicine, 175(1), ITC1–ITC16. [https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC202201180](https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC202201180%E2%80%8B) - Kalmin, M. M., Crowley, C., Bilder, A., McCullough, C. M., Weir, R., Griffin, B. A., Komaromy, M., & Watkins, K. E. (2026). Stimulant use and increased severity of opioid use disorder and mental illness in patients with co-occurring disorders. Journal of substance use and addiction treatment, 188, 209997. Advance online publication. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2026.209997](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2026.209997%E2%80%8B) - Walker, D. M., Aldrich, A. M., Chen, S., Jadovich, E., Goetz, M., Andrews-Higgins, S., Walley, A. Y., Knudsen, H. K., Huerta, T. R., Hunt, T., & Drainoni, M. L. (2026). The role of external and internal context on adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices: a serial case study qualitative analysis of top performers in the HEALing Communities Study. Implementation science communications, 10.1186/s43058-026-00952-9. Advance online publication. [https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-026-00952-9](https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-026-00952-9%E2%80%8B) - Weinstein, Z. M., Jadovich, E., Drainoni, M. L., LaRochelle, M., Yan, S., Lee, J., Bettano, A., Beers, D., Walley, A. Y., & Samet, J. H. (2026). Implementation of addiction consult services and bridge clinics in the HEALing communities study in Massachusetts. Drug and alcohol dependence, 284, 113165. Advance online publication. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113165](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113165%E2%80%8B) - Renehan, C. M., Alim, A. M., Cogan, A., Wiggins, M., Weinberger, E., Carney, B. L., Alves, J., Ventura, A. S., Day Lopes, M., & Bagley, S. M. (2026). Overdose Prevention Education and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in School-Based Health Centers: A Qualitative Exploration. Substance use & addiction journal, 29767342261442454. Advance online publication. [https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342261442454](https://doi.org/10.1177/29767342261442454%E2%80%8B) ## Clinical Training When clinicians across the country are looking to educate and train their teams, they turn to BMC. BMC has developed numerous programs for hospital-based and community-based providers, so that anyone who encounters a patient needing help with addiction can offer them appropriate care. **To request training or technical support, please email us at** [**info@addictiontraining.org**](mailto:info@addictiontraining.org)**.** ### Grayken Training and Technical Assistance (Grayken TTA) The program provides education, support, and capacity building to community health centers and other health care and social service providers on best practices for caring for patients with substance use disorders, with the goal of expanding access to life-saving treatment. [Explore Training and Resources](https://www.addictiontraining.org/) ### Project ECHO: Opioid Addiction Treatment ECHO at BMC This innovative tele-mentoring model connects expert teams with community primary care providers through virtual clinics, using videoconferencing to share specialty care knowledge. It helps expand expertise in chronic pain, substance use, and behavioral health, while advancing medical education, building capacity, and reducing health disparities. [Explore the ECHO Model](https://www.addictiontraining.org/project-echo/) ### Massachusetts Consultation Services for Treatment of Addiction and Pain (MCSTAP) The program supports primary care providers in building confidence and capacity to use evidence-based practices for screening, diagnosing, treating, and managing care for patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders. It offers practical tools, real-time physician consultation, and connections to community resources. Providers can reach MCSTAP at **1.833.PAIN.SUD (1.833.724.6783).** [Connect With MCSTAP for Provider Support](https://www.mcstap.com/) ### MA Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (MASBIRT) TTA Through training for medical, behavioral health, and public health providers—as well as health care support staff—this initiative builds skills to deliver screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) services that address the full spectrum of unhealthy substance use. [Access MASBIRT Training and Resources](https://masbirt.org/) ### Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Playbook The Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Playbook is a practical guide for providing MOUD and immediate care for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in primary care and other ambulatory care settings. This interactive, web-based product includes the latest guidance, tools, resources, tips, and examples that address key aspects of MOUD implementation. The playbook will help you find your own path for implementation by applying knowledge about successful approaches and navigating possible barriers. [MOUD Playbook Evaluation Executive Summary ](https://www.bmc.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/MOUD%20Playbook%20Evaluation-Executive%20Summary_Final.pdf) [Information for Participating Practices](https://www.bmc.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/MOUD%20Playbook%20Evaluation%20-%20Information%20for%20Participating%20Practices_Final.pdf) ### SCOPE of Pain This series of continuing medical and nursing education activities helps providers safely and effectively manage patients with chronic pain using opioid analgesics, when appropriate. [Explore SCOPE of Pain Education](https://www.scopeofpain.org/) ### Prescribe to Prevent: Naloxone Rescue Kits and Overdose Education This online educational program equips prescribers, pharmacists, and other health care providers to prevent overdoses among patients and their social networks. Naloxone is also available at all BMC pharmacies through a standing order—no prescription needed. [Access Overdose Prevention Education](https://www.bu.edu/dental/ce/prescribe-to-prevent/) ### Boston Sustainable Models for Unhealthy Alcohol Use Reduction (B SMART) B SMART aims to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and the risks associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. The program offers tailored education and technical assistance on screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for risky alcohol use to Boston HealthNet community health center care teams. [Discover the Benefits of B Smart](/addiction/training-education/b-smart) ### The SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative The SBIRT and FASD Education, Support and Treatment (SAFEST) Choice Learning Collaborative works to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and improve outcomes for children with suspected or diagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders through virtual education and support for health care teams. [Join the SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative](/addiction/training-education/safest-choice) ## Educational Opportunities Grayken offers educational opportunities ranging from four-day immersive trainings to multiyear fellowships. If you are a social work or counseling student, medical resident, nurse, or fellow looking to learn more about addiction medicine, please check out our educational programs below. ### [Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/education-and-training-programs/care-program-fellowship-in-addiction-medicine) Our fellowship, one of the first in the nation, prepares physicians to become board certified in addiction medicine and work to improve the wellbeing of people who use substances. ### [Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/psychiatry/fellowships/addiction-psychiatry-fellowship/) This program, run jointly by the VA and BMC, provides psychiatric physicians with advanced training to recognize, diagnose, and treat substance use disorders. ### [Chief Resident Immersion Training](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/education-and-training-programs/crit/) This four-day program teaches chief residents foundations of addiction medicine and SUD diagnosis and management, so they can integrate substance use content into their curricula. ### [Fellow Immersion Training (FIT)](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/education-and-training-programs/fellow-immersion-training-fit-program/) FIT is a four-day intensive training that equips clinical subspecialty fellows with state-of-the-art skills and information to integrate addiction medicine into clinical research. ### [Grayken Addiction Nursing Fellowship](/addiction/grayken-addiction-nursing-fellowship) This fellowship, the first of its kind for RNs, provides nurses with comprehensive and specialized training to care for people with SUD. ### [Research in Addiction Medicine Scholars (RAMS)](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/care/education-and-training-programs/training-programs/research-in-addiction-medicine-scholars-rams-program/) The RAMS Program helps physicians from addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry fellowships develop skills in research, in order to provide better care for patients. ### [Social Work Internships](mailto:Carla.Monteiro@bmc.org) Our internships give first- and second-year MSW students the opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians who work with our diverse patient population affected by SUDs.