A program to help adults with opioid addiction find jobs and stay drug-free

Long-Term Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder

NIH-funded research Northern Michigan University · NIH-11012823

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthern Michigan University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Marquette, United States)
Project IDNIH-11012823 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are struggling with opioid use disorder and are currently unemployed.

Not a fit: Patients who are not struggling with opioid use disorder or who are already employed may not receive benefit from this research.

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 performed: Previous studies have shown success with employment-based abstinence reinforcement, making this approach promising for real-world application.

Where this research is happening

Marquette, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.