Addressing racial disparities in opioid overdose deaths using open source peer recovery coaching and AI-powered mobile health
Official title: Addressing racial disparities in opioid overdose deaths using an open source peer recovery coach training and multimodal mobile health platform
Funded at Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res · NIH-11566367 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, open-source program uses AI-powered texting and peer recovery coaching to help Black and Latinx people who use opioids access support and stay in treatment, aiming to reduce overdose deaths and close gaps in care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orangeburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $371,431 |
| NIH project number | 7R34DA059770-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11566367 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are Black or Latinx and use opioids, experiencing barriers to care and engaged with or eligible for buprenorphine treatment, within a clinical or community health setting.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to digital technology or those not seeking engagement with peer support or buprenorphine treatment may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will adapt a cultural and structural humility training for peer recovery coaches into interactive video modules and refine an AI-driven texting tool to support participants. The approach combines real-time AI responses to patient questions with automated messages that help address social determinants of health and linkage to buprenorphine treatment. A 3-month pilot randomized trial will evaluate whether the AI-enhanced coaching and messaging improve engagement, reduce barriers, and improve outcomes for Black and Latinx individuals who use opioids in a real-world health system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce overdose deaths by improving access to peer support, healthcare connections, and retention in treatment for racial minority PWUO.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work suggests AI-driven texting and peer coaching can improve engagement and service use, but large-scale, diverse-race impacts remain to be confirmed in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
Orangeburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tofighi, Babak — Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
- Study coordinator: Tofighi, Babak
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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.