Cannabis and sober living houses: how weed fits with recovery and policies
Official title: Assessing the Role of Cannabis in Sober Living Houses
Funded at Public Health Institute · NIH-11361238 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how cannabis use among people in sober living houses relates to recovery, mental health, and policies, to help SLHs support residents safely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Public Health Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $542,187 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA063569-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361238 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults living in sober living houses who have varying patterns of cannabis use and are willing to participate in interviews and surveys.
✕Less likely to help
Residents not connected to sober living housing or those unwilling to participate may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one lives in a sober living house, this study will follow residents to see how cannabis use connects with drinking, other drug use, and recovery strengths. It will also explore why residents use cannabis, including medical use, and how these choices affect recovery and community living. Researchers will work with SLHs to understand existing policies and begin developing a practical policy assessment tool. The study plans to recruit 35 SLHs, 400 residents, and SLH managers to gather data over time. Findings could inform better guidelines for cannabis use in recovery housing while safeguarding abstinence goals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to clearer policies and better support for residents in sober living houses around cannabis use and recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has explored substance use in recovery settings, but this study adds targeted data on cannabis use within SLHs and policy development.
Where this research is happening
-
Public Health Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Subbaraman, Meenakshi S — Public Health Institute
- Study coordinator: Subbaraman, Meenakshi S
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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.