Understanding Polysubstance Use Patterns and Overdose Risk in Champaign-Urbana

Academic Partner | Hyojung Kang
Community Partner |  Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Project Description
Polysubstance use, particularly involving opioids combined with stimulants or benzodiazepines, has become a major driver of overdose risk. However, local patterns of co-use, motivations for combining substances, and contextual risk factors remain poorly understood at the community level. This project will lay the foundation for a pilot study examining polysubstance use patterns and associated overdose risks in Champaign-Urbana through two components: (1) secondary analysis of local emergency department and EMS data to identify common substance combinations and temporal trends, and (2) qualitative interviews with individuals who use drugs to understand motivations, risk perception, and harm reduction practices.

In partnership with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, the project will focus on developing analytic frameworks and data collection tools that can generate actionable insights for overdose prevention strategies, including targeted harm reduction interventions.

Role of the Scholar
The Community-Academic Scholar will work with the PI and the health department to develop the study protocol, including defining polysubstance use measures and analytic strategies. The scholar will assist in designing qualitative interview guides, preparing IRB materials, and supporting preliminary data exploration. The scholar will also contribute to integrating findings into public health recommendations. Through this work, the scholar will gain experience in mixed-methods research, substance use epidemiology, and community-engaged harm reduction research.