NIDA’s mission is to advance science on drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health through:
- Strategically supporting and conducting basic, clinical, and epidemiological research on drug use, its consequences, and the underlying neurobiological, behavioral, and social mechanisms involved.
- Advancing the translation, effective implementation, and dissemination of scientific research findings to improve the prevention and treatment of SUDs, reduce adverse health consequences associated with drug use, and enhance public awareness of addiction as a chronic but treatable medical illness.
NIDA’s research advances fundamental knowledge and provides scientific evidence to inform individual and public health; federal, state, and local health, education, and human services; and the legal system. As such, the FY 2022-2026 NIDA Strategic Plan was developed with multiple audiences in mind, including academic researchers, small businesses and other industry partners, federal and state policymakers, providers, individuals affected by SUDs and their families, and other stakeholders.
The strategic plan focuses on scientific opportunities to meet current public health needs, yet NIDA acknowledges that the landscape of drug use and addiction is always changing and that scientific breakthroughs can alter the course of research. NIDA will continue to support cutting-edge research across all facets of our scientific portfolio, informed by experience with drug use and addiction, while remaining nimble enough to take advantage of new scientific opportunities and address emerging public health challenges.
NIDA’s strategic plan includes five Priority Scientific Areas that address NIDA’s priorities in basic science and behavioral research, intervention development, implementation science, and translational research:
- Priority Scientific Area #1: Understand Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior
- Priority Scientific Area 2: Develop and Test Novel Prevention and Therapeutic Interventions
- Priority Scientific Area #3: Accelerate Research on the Intersection of Substance Use and HIV
- Priority Scientific Area #4: Improve the Implementation of Evidence-Based Strategies in Real-World Settings
- Priority Scientific Area #5: Translate Research into Innovative Health Applications
Within each Priority Scientific Area, Goals reflect targeted areas of emphasis to grow our portfolio and speed progress toward achieving our mission. Each Goal is broken down into Key Focus Areas, which reflect research opportunities as well as concrete activities NIDA will undertake in pursuit of that Goal.
Scientific Stewardship and Management and Accountability Priorities focus on how NIDA as a federal agency fosters excellent stewardship of the public funds it receives and effectively administers its research and training programs, including cultivating a highly skilled research workforce.
NIDA’s strategic plan also includes the following Cross-Cutting Priorities, which span NIDA’s portfolio and will contribute substantially to our mission.