A chatbot to help people with substance use disorder get support remotely
Official title: A conversational agent to support remote care for individuals with substance use disorder
Funded at Dimagi, INC. · NIH-10928274 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly chatbot named Suzy that helps people recovering from substance use disorder by keeping them connected with their care team and coaches, making it easier for them to stay on track during their recovery journey.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dimagi, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $874,937 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DA050218-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928274 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals in long-term recovery from substance use disorder who are receiving care from primary care providers and recovery coaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not engaged in recovery programs or those without access to primary care services may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research develops an intelligent chatbot named Suzy, designed to provide on-demand follow-up support for individuals recovering from substance use disorder (SUD). The chatbot will engage patients in their recovery journey by facilitating communication with their clinical care team and recovery coaches. Using a human-centered design approach, the research will evaluate Suzy's effectiveness through a mixed methods study involving primary care patients over a 12-week intervention period. Patients will complete assessments at baseline, weekly, and at the end of the study to measure the impact of the chatbot on their recovery process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance patient engagement and support for individuals recovering from substance use disorder, potentially improving recovery outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success with digital health interventions for substance use disorder, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Dimagi, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ho, Y. Xian — Dimagi, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ho, Y. Xian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Co-treated care for substance use and heart infection at UVMMC
A hospital-based project aims to improve how doctors and teams treat people with both substance use disorder and infective endocarditis during their hospital stay.
-
Genetics study of methamphetamine use disorder in Thai people
A genetics study in Thailand is looking at how genes may influence methamphetamine use disorder and related behaviors.
-
PROTECT-ED: Rapid care connects people just released from jail to HIV and overdose prevention
A program in the emergency department helps people who just left jail get started on medications for opioid use disorder and HIV prevention right away and connect them to ongoing care.
-
Justice Core: Helping pregnant women with substance use get treatment while in jail
A pragmatic trial will test whether a jail diversion program (Justice Core) improves access to treatment and perinatal outcomes for pregnant women with substance use issues compared to usual referral after jail release.
-
Adapting with Proactive SUD Intervention via Disease Intervention Specialists
A new program uses a proven outreach model to identify and connect people with substance use disorder to care earlier, by applying DIS tactics to SUD in communities.
-
ED-based Screening and Brief Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Disorder
A Purdue-led project will test if ED-based screening plus a brief in-person motivational talk and follow-up telehealth coaching can reduce risky substance use and prevent future disorder in diverse adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.