Medical research can sometimes become disconnected from the interests and needs of the people it is intended to serve. This is true across diseases and disorders, and addiction research is no exception. Too often, scientists who study drugs and addiction have not meaningfully engaged people with lived and living experience of substance use. And when people who use substances are engaged, the experience may leave them feeling exploited or traumatized, such as when they are not adequately compensated for their time or when they are asked to recall distressing life events. It is also rare for researchers to follow up with participants to let them know what was learned in a research project.

https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2024/11/improving-community-engagement-in-addiction-science?asam.org