Adolescent Overdose Prevention and SUD Treatment Initiative (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DA 25 030

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 030

The Adolescent Overdose Prevention and SUD Treatment Initiative (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-25-030) designed to support early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research focused on adolescent illicit fentanyl use and overdose. The emphasis is on building a clearer, more actionable picture of how and why overdoses are occurring among youth who are at elevated risk, and on using that knowledge to pinpoint practical targets for overdose prevention as well as substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery strategies. Because it uses the R21 mechanism, the intent is typically to fund projects that generate foundational evidence, test promising ideas, or establish feasibility rather than large-scale definitive studies.

The program is specifically interested in research that improves understanding of patterns of fentanyl involvement in adolescent drug use and overdose, including both intentional fentanyl use and unintentional exposure through fentanyl-laced drugs. Projects can be designed around many different methodological approaches, reflecting the fact that timely insights may come from multiple sources. Examples of encouraged approaches include analyses of existing data sources (such as medical, public health, education, or other surveillance-type datasets), survey-based research to capture attitudes and behaviors, social network analysis to map risk transmission or peer influences, new methods development that improves measurement or detection of fentanyl exposure and overdose risk, and feasibility or pilot research that lays the groundwork for later, larger studies. The "clinical trial not allowed" designation means applicants should not propose studies that meet NIH definitions of clinical trials (for example, prospectively assigning participants to an intervention to evaluate health-related outcomes), and instead should focus on observational, methodological, secondary data, qualitative, or other non-trial designs consistent with the FOA.

In terms of what investigators are expected to measure or explain, the FOA highlights a broad set of outcomes and constructs that can inform prevention and treatment. Outcomes of interest include the prevalence of overdose and patterns of overdose among adolescents, and changes or reductions in substance use, with particular attention to fentanyl use and to drugs frequently contaminated with fentanyl. It also calls attention to differences by risk group, which can include demographic, behavioral, or contextual categories that help identify who is most vulnerable and why. Beyond overdose counts and drug-use metrics, the FOA explicitly values research on stigma and how it affects disclosure, help-seeking, and care access; family and environmental risk and protective factors that either increase danger or buffer against it; and treatment engagement, including barriers to starting care and factors that influence retention and recovery supports. The announcement also notes interest in youth perceptions of substance use and "optimistic bias," a concept referring to the tendency for individuals to underestimate their personal risk compared to others, which can directly shape prevention messaging effectiveness and risk-taking behavior.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizations capable of conducting health research. Eligible applicants listed in the source information include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Notably, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are also included as eligible applicants, which can be relevant for comparative research, methods development, or multinational collaborations where appropriate and allowable under NIH policy.

Key administrative details from the source listing include that the sponsoring agency is NIH, the instrument is a grant, and the activity category falls under education and health. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.273 and 93.279. The opportunity was created on 2023-11-17, and the original closing date shown is 2024-03-13. The posted information does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the fields provided, so applicants typically would need to consult the full FOA and NIH parent policy references for budget expectations, project period norms for R21s, and any institute- or announcement-specific constraints.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at generating high-value, near-term evidence that can sharpen overdose prevention and SUD treatment efforts for adolescents in the context of fentanyl risk. It prioritizes research that clarifies who is most at risk, how risk is shaped by social and environmental factors, how youth understand and misjudge fentanyl-related danger, and what leverage points could improve prevention, engagement with care, and recovery pathways, without proposing a clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Adolescent Overdose Prevention and SUD Treatment Initiative (R21 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273, 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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