NIH Launches HEAL Initiative To Accelerate Research To Address The National Opioid Epidemic

On April 4, 2018, the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative: a cross-agency effort to develop solutions to the national opioid health crisis. To aid in solution development, NIH is increasing funding for research related to pain caused by opioid misuse or addiction to about $1.1 billion: a $500 million increase from the 2016 fiscal year budget. The increase is made possible by a funding increase by Congress.

HEAL will build on existing NIH research that led to the development of the nasal form of naloxone, the most commonly . . .