Five-Year, $4 Million NIDA Grant Aims to Decode the Economics of SUD Treatments
A collaboration between Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine has secured a five-year, $4 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to advance health economics research in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The project aims to illuminate the costs, pricing, access, and outcomes associated with evidence-based therapies, with the goal of informing policy decisions and improving the affordability and effectiveness of care for people living with SUD.
Why Health Economics Matters in Substance Use Disorder Care
Substance use disorders impose substantial economic burdens on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Yet funding streams, reimbursement models, and treatment availability often lag behind scientific advances. By applying rigorous economic analysis to SUD treatments—ranging from pharmacotherapies to behavioral therapies—the research team hopes to identify which interventions deliver the best value for patients and payers alike. This includes examining the long-term cost savings from reduced hospitalizations, improved employment outcomes, and lower crime-related costs associated with successful treatment.
Team and Institutional Strengths
Led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the team integrates expertise in health economics, epidemiology, clinical care, and implementation science. The multi-institutional collaboration leverages diverse datasets, including claims data, clinical trial results, and real-world evidence, to create a comprehensive picture of how SUD treatments perform in real-world settings. The project also involves patient-centered perspectives to better capture barriers to access and affordability from the end-user standpoint.
Key Research Questions
The grant funds exploration of several core questions, such as:
– How do costs differ among pharmacotherapies, counseling, and integrated care programs for opioid, alcohol, and stimulant use disorders?
– What are the price and reimbursement barriers that limit patient access to effective treatments?
– How do different funding models influence treatment adherence, retention, and overall health outcomes?
– What are the upstream economic benefits of successful SUD treatment for communities, employers, and the broader healthcare system?
Implications for Policy and Practice
By quantifying value in SUD treatment, the research intends to guide policymakers, insurers, and healthcare providers toward choices that maximize patient outcomes while containing costs. Findings could support evidence-based coverage decisions, inform value-based pricing negotiations, and encourage the adoption of integrated care models that combine medication-assisted treatment with behavioral therapies. In addition, the work may identify strategies to reduce disparities in access, particularly for underserved populations disproportionately affected by substance use disorders.
What Comes Next
Over the next five years, the team will conduct analyses across multiple settings, including primary care clinics, specialty addiction centers, and community-based programs. They will publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, share insights with health systems and policymakers, and contribute to ongoing conversations about how best to allocate limited resources in the fight against substance use disorders. The ultimate aim is to ensure that scientifically proven treatments reach all who could benefit, at a cost that is sustainable for patients and the systems that serve them.
About the Institutions
Weill Cornell Medicine is renowned for its cutting-edge clinical research and commitment to translating science into patient care. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine brings deep expertise in health services research and a strong track record in SUD-related investigations. Together, their collaboration reflects a growing emphasis on the economics of care as a critical component of improving outcomes for people with substance use disorders.
