Creating a new therapy to help patients with alcohol use disorder who are also receiving treatment for opioid addiction
Official title: Developing a modified brief alcohol-focused intervention tailored for patients with alcohol use disorder in opioid agonist treatment
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11032045 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $153,820 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AA029729-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11032045 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who are currently receiving opioid agonist treatment, such as buprenorphine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have alcohol use disorder or are not receiving opioid agonist treatment may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carpenter, Ryan W — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Carpenter, Ryan W
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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.