GLOW-UPS: long-acting vs daily buprenorphine for people leaving prison
Official title: “GLP-1 Outcomes with people Using Psychoactive Substances (GLOW-UPS): a multi-stage, multi-site trial among persons involved in the criminal-legal system
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11415917 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study will compare long-acting injectable buprenorphine to daily oral buprenorphine for adults with opioid use disorder who are about to leave prison, to see which keeps people adherent and safe after release.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,374,439 |
| NIH project number | 5UM1DA064531-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415917 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older with opioid use disorder preparing for release from correctional facilities who are willing to participate and consent to follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not interested in long-acting treatment or unable to participate in post-release follow-up may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests whether a shot that lasts weeks can help people with opioid use disorder stay on treatment after leaving incarceration. It will recruit 300 adults from three correctional sites and randomize them to either long-acting injectable buprenorphine or the standard daily tablet form, then follow them for at least 12 weeks after release. Researchers will measure retention on treatment, ongoing substance use, overdose events, and feedback from participants to understand what works best in real-world settings. The study is designed to inform how to improve treatment continuity and reduce overdose risk during the critical transition from prison to community care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve medication adherence after release and reduce overdose risk for a population at high danger during the transition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest that sustained-delivery medications can improve adherence in some populations, but this large, real-world trial in corrections-to-community settings is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Joshua D — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lee, Joshua D
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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.