The strategic planning process was coordinated by NIDA’s Office of Science Policy and Communications. The process began in 2020 with a pre-planning phase during which Institute leadership identified broad priority scientific areas and the overall framework for the strategic plan. Listening sessions were then held with representatives from each of NIDA’s Offices, Centers, and Divisions to identify research gaps and opportunities. Based on these internal consultations, an initial outline was developed and approved by NIDA leadership. In June 2020, NIDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) for public feedback on the initial outline, and more than 100 unique responses were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including private citizens, academic researchers, advocacy organizations, and professional societies. Key topics that emerged included health disparities, underrepresented populations, comorbid/co-occurring conditions, stigma, policy, and treatment models. In parallel with the release of the RFI, NIDA partnered with the Addiction Policy Forum to solicit quotes from people with lived experience for inclusion in the strategic plan. In 2021 and 2022, the strategic plan was drafted and reviewed by NIDA Offices and Divisions. The plan was submitted for review to the members of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse in June 2022. Their feedback and additional feedback from NIDA leadership were incorporated thereafter, and the final FY 2022-2026 NIDA Strategic Plan was released on September 21, 2022.
