NDSU News

June 23, 2025

NDSU’s ONE Program awarded grants for opioid harm reduction efforts in North Dakota

Members of NDSU's ONE Program pose for a group photo.

The ONE Program, operated by faculty with the NDSU School of Pharmacy, has received three grants totaling over $550,000 through the North Dakota Department of Human Services distribution of opioid settlement funds.

Faculty, students and community partners will build three distinct programs aimed at opioid harm prevention innovations and patient care for those who are in greatest need.

Implementation and Expansion of Methadone Mediation Dispensing Units in North Dakota Community Pharmacies received $140,691

Due to strict regulations for safety, people prescribed methadone for opioid use disorder must receive their medication daily from a licensed opioid treatment program or via methadone dispensing unit.

There are only four OTPs and zero MDUs across the state, requiring some rural patients drive at least 140 miles daily. This program will work to establish rural community pharmacies as methadone medication dispensing units.

“Creating safe methadone dispensing units in rural community pharmacies has the potential to dramatically increase patient success with treatment efforts and improve quality of life,” said Dr. Amy Werremeyer, PI for this program.

Opioid Harm Reduction and Medication Safety for People who are Incarcerated received $247,545

The ONE Program will expand a pilot program which provides opioid risk screening and medication safety to people who are incarcerated. Public health nurses or correctional officers are trained to provide education and interventions including an opioid harm reduction and medication safety kit upon discharge.

“With four county correctional facilities already piloting this program, we have great aspirations for growing the program to other locations,” said Heidi Eukel, PI for this project. “We’ve seen amazing outcomes already including an almost 100% acceptance rate of naloxone at discharge”

Hand in Hand ONE Program and Native American Health Medication Safety received $165,639

Through a collective collaboration effort, the NDSU ONE Program, Quality Health Associates and the NDSU American Indian Public Health Resource Center will work together to share expertise and resources, to increase safe medication use and reduce opioid harms, among Native American community members through trusting relationships with Native American health directors, opioid response coordinators and Indian Health Service providers.

This initiative has a particular focus on safe medication activities among native youth. This will be a partnership with the Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and other Native Nations.

About the ONE Program

The ONE Program is a part of the NDSU Center for Collaboration and Advancement in Pharmacy NDSU School of Pharmacy co-investigators for the grant awards include Professor Heidi Eukel, adjunct faculty Oliver Frenzel, CAP Center Director of Operations Lisa Nagel, Professor Elizabeth Skoy, and Professor and Chair Amy Werremeyer.