A program to help adults with opioid addiction find jobs and stay drug-free
Official title: Long-Term Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
Funded at Northern Michigan University · NIH-11012823 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a program that helps adults struggling with opioid addiction find jobs while encouraging them to stay drug-free, and it aims to create a version that community programs can easily use to support people in need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Michigan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Marquette, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,081,861 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA053218-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11012823 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are struggling with opioid use disorder and are currently unemployed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not struggling with opioid use disorder or who are already employed may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a program called the Therapeutic Workplace, which aims to assist adults with opioid use disorder who are unemployed and living in poverty. Participants will be paid to work, and to encourage drug abstinence, they must provide drug-free urine samples to maintain their maximum wages. The study seeks to develop a low-cost version of this program that can be implemented by community treatment programs, ultimately aiming to demonstrate its effectiveness in real-world settings. By focusing on employment and abstinence reinforcement, the program hopes to address the intertwined issues of opioid addiction and poverty.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a sustainable pathway for individuals with opioid use disorder to achieve drug abstinence and stable employment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success with employment-based abstinence reinforcement, making this approach promising for real-world application.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toegel, Forrest James — Northern Michigan University
- Study coordinator: Toegel, Forrest James
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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.