Disclosing Recovery: A Tool to Reduce Social Isolation for People Receiving Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Official title: Disclosure Intervention to Reduce Social Isolation and Facilitate Recovery among People in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11390951 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A guided, one-hour intervention helps people in treatment for opioid use disorder decide how and when to talk about their OUD history to reduce loneliness and support recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $520,992 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059557-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390951 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in treatment for opioid use disorder who are navigating decisions about disclosure to friends, family, or colleagues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients uninterested in discussing their OUD history or who are not seeking greater social support may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project offers a one-hour disclosure intervention and toolkit to help people in OUD treatment navigate the difficult decisions around sharing their history with others. It aims to reduce social isolation by improving communication skills, coping strategies, and de-escalation techniques that support re-engagement with social networks. The approach was piloted with 50 participants and is designed to be used within the treatment setting to facilitate connections that can support recovery. If successful, the program could be integrated into standard care to help more patients build supportive social ties.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience less isolation and better social support, contributing to improved recovery trajectories.
How similar studies have gone: There is evidence that social support and disclosure strategies aid recovery in other chronic conditions, but this specific OUD-focused disclosure tool is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Earnshaw, Valerie Ann — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Earnshaw, Valerie Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Helping people in opioid treatment safely share their recovery and rebuild connections
A one-hour program to help people in opioid treatment decide when and how to tell others about their recovery to reduce isolation and support getting better.
-
Helping people in opioid treatment connect socially through disclosure.
This study is all about helping people in recovery from opioid use disorder feel less lonely by teaching them how to share their experiences with others, so they can build important social connections that support their healing journey.
-
Understanding social isolation and loneliness in older adults with opioid use disorder
This study looks at how feeling lonely and isolated affects older adults, aged 55 and up, who are getting help for opioid use in San Diego, and it will check in with them over time to see how their social connections and feelings change.
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Systems analysis to improve opioid use disorder care after jail release (SAIA-MOUD)
A program to help people with opioid use disorder get better, faster, and safer care after they leave jail.
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Precise epigenetic drugs for opioid addiction
A tiny, targeted drug approach is being developed to help people with opioid use disorder by rewriting the epigenetic signals in the brain to reduce cravings and relapse risk.
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Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans
This project helps unhoused people in Montana get life-saving medicines for opioid use disorder through clinics connected to syringe service programs, a nurse-led MOUD model, and peer support.
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.