Discussing buprenorphine and methadone for treating opioid use disorder
Official title: Conversations can save lives: TALKing About Buprenorphine & methadone for Opioid Use Treatment Initiation (TALK ABOUT)
Funded at Baystate Medical Center, INC. · NIH-10930920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help people with opioid use disorder get the medications they need, like buprenorphine and methadone, by encouraging doctors in emergency rooms to talk with patients about their treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baystate Medical Center, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Springfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $320,398 |
| NIH project number | 5R34DA058199-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals presenting to emergency departments with opioid use disorder who are seeking treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not struggling with opioid use disorder or those who are already receiving effective treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving access to medications for opioid use disorder, specifically buprenorphine and methadone, by facilitating conversations in emergency departments. It aims to address the significant treatment gap where many patients who could benefit from these medications are not receiving them. The approach involves Shared Decision-Making (SDM), encouraging clinicians to engage patients in discussions about their treatment options. By implementing this method in emergency care settings, the research seeks to enhance treatment initiation and adherence among patients struggling with opioid use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of patients receiving effective treatment for opioid use disorder, potentially reducing overdose deaths and improving overall health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing buprenorphine dispensing in emergency departments can improve treatment initiation rates, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Baystate Medical Center, INC.
Springfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schoenfeld, Elizabeth Mae — Baystate Medical Center, INC.
- Study coordinator: Schoenfeld, Elizabeth Mae
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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.