Comparing withdrawal and medication treatments for pregnant women with opioid use disorder
Official title: Medically-supervised withdrawal vs. agonist maintenance in the treatment of pregnant women with opioid use disorder: Maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10375543 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at two different ways to help pregnant women who are dealing with opioid use disorder—either going through a supervised withdrawal or using ongoing medication—and it aims to find out which method is safer and more effective for both moms and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2018 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $649,921 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA047867-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10375543 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are seeking treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not have opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the outcomes of two treatment approaches for pregnant women with opioid use disorder: medically-supervised withdrawal and opioid agonist treatment. The study will involve a matched cohort of women who will either undergo a short withdrawal process using buprenorphine or receive ongoing medication. Participants will receive comprehensive clinical care throughout their treatment, and the study aims to assess maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes to determine the safest and most effective approach. By analyzing data from multiple sites, the research seeks to provide clearer insights into the impacts of these treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment protocols for pregnant women with opioid use disorder, enhancing maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the effectiveness of these treatment approaches, indicating that this research is necessary to clarify the best practices.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Hendree E — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Jones, Hendree E
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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.