Creating a new therapy to help patients with alcohol use disorder who are also receiving treatment for opioid addiction

Developing a modified brief alcohol-focused intervention tailored for patients with alcohol use disorder in opioid agonist treatment

NIH-funded research University of Notre Dame · NIH-11032045

This study is testing a new therapy that helps people with alcohol use problems who are also getting treatment for opioid addiction, aiming to make it easier for them to cut down on drinking and improve their overall recovery.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Notre Dame NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Notre Dame, United States)
Project IDNIH-11032045 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop and test a modified therapy that combines motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioral techniques specifically for patients with alcohol use disorder who are undergoing opioid agonist treatment. The intervention seeks to address the dual challenges of alcohol and opioid use, which can significantly increase the risk of overdose and treatment dropout. By focusing on reducing alcohol consumption, the study hopes to improve overall treatment outcomes for individuals receiving buprenorphine for opioid addiction. Participants will be involved in a pilot program to assess the feasibility and acceptability of this tailored approach.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who are currently receiving opioid agonist treatment, such as buprenorphine.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have alcohol use disorder or are not receiving opioid agonist treatment may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment retention and reduced overdose risk for patients struggling with both alcohol and opioid use disorders.

How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have shown that brief alcohol-focused interventions can be effective, this specific approach tailored for patients in opioid agonist treatment is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Notre Dame, 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.
Conditions addictive disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.