Taking Action to Save Lives
The University of Michigan Opioid Research Institute (ORI) serves as a hub for catalyzing and expanding high-impact research around opioid-related use, harm prevention and access to care.
Our Mission
Who We Are
At the Opioid Research Institute (ORI), we are committed to connecting groups, individuals and organizations that are interested in addressing the opioid crisis. Our team is comprised of leading experts, practitioners and community partners focused on sharing research and resources state and nationwide.
The Institute also serves as a connection point for U-M experts and external partners engaged in opioid-related work, bridging the gap between academia and state and national partners.
Our TeamWhat We Know
Nationwide, the opioid epidemic results in approximately 200 deaths daily. In Michigan, the number of opioid deaths has grown tenfold since 2000. This crisis affects a wide range of people—in urban and rural communities, among young adolescents and elderly adults and across all races and socioeconomic sectors. The Opioid Research Institute is dedicated to addressing the societal and individual challenges presented by opioid misuse.
Prevention
The Institute collaborates with its partners to implement substance use prevention programs and develop and share best practices for pain management, opioid prescribing and patient education.
Treatment
The Institute provides information about evidence-based, gold-standard treatment services for those suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) and other related disorders, as well as professional training and service implementation guidance.
Recovery
The Institute provides connections to care and support services for those suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) other related disorders, their families and communities.
Harm Reduction
Institute faculty members and community partners provide training and education around the implementation of best practices for harm reduction programs and services.
Training
The Institute provides information about educational programs, courses and other opportunities for health professional students, faculty and fellows.
Data & Evaluation
With access to a team of experts, the Institute conducts needs assessments and evaluations of statewide and local community programs related to the prevention and remediation of overdoses. It also provides support around data development, analytics and visualizations to U-M researchers and to external partners. To help navigate and understand what types of data may exist, the Institute hosts a robust data catalog available to U-M researchers.
Stay Informed
Interested in learning more about the Institute? Sign up for our listserv to receive special announcements, our quarterly newsletter, event notices and more.
Join our ListservJoin Our Faculty Affiliate List
The Opioid Research Institute, launched in April of 2023, serves as a central hub for University of Michigan researchers to connect and collaborate with colleagues from across all three campuses working in the opioid research space. As part of that mission ORI has developed a faculty affiliate membership opportunity for those interested in engaging with the Institute. Learn more and sign up below.
Sign up to be an Affiliate