USD Sanford School of Medicine Receives Nearly $1 Million to Address Substance Abuse and Recovery
The grant, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will support a program called Collaborative Outreach to Normalize and Navigate Evidence-based Care and Treatment (CONNECT), which increases the capacity of healthcare and court professionals to recognize, respond to and refer individuals with substance use disorders to appropriate support avenues.
By improving early recognition, response and referral, the program fills a critical gap in the behavioral health landscape and advances public health outcomes across South Dakota.
Substance use disorders are a significant contributor to health disparities statewide, with rural and underserved communities often facing greater barriers to treatment and recovery services. The grant will support expanded access to substance use disorder treatment and recovery resources, with a focus on meeting the needs of communities across South Dakota.
“South Dakota faces a pressing public health crisis at the intersection of trauma, substance use and justice system involvement,” explained Jacob Prunuske, M.D., chair of the SSOM Department of Family Medicine. “Individuals with substance use disorders are disproportionately represented in courts and correctional settings, yet many of the professionals who serve them—such as court services officers, treatment court staff and healthcare providers—lack formal training in trauma-informed care, substance use epidemiology and neuroscience, and referral strategies.”
The program will be piloted in Sioux Falls and is led by a team with expertise in substance use disorder science, rural health, medical education and lived experiences. CONNECT aims to train at least 40 professionals during the pilot phase. Funding for the project began Sept. 1 and will continue through May 31, 2030.
“By building local capacity, we hope to strengthen collaboration and lay the groundwork for long-term integration into rural and underserved communities,” Prunuske said.
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