Helping families cope with grief and substance use after drug overdose deaths
Official title: Families left behind: Addressing prolonged grief and substance use disorders among people bereaved by drug overdose deaths
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11059008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help families who have lost someone to a drug overdose by offering them support from others who understand their pain, using a program called the RIVER model, to help them cope with their feelings and connect with helpful resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,298,766 |
| NIH project number | 1R61DA062335-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 21 and older who have recently lost a loved one to a drug overdose and are experiencing grief-related challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a drug overdose death in their family or who are not currently struggling with grief or substance use issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the unique challenges faced by families who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses, addressing the complex emotions of guilt, shame, and blame that often accompany such losses. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer grief support intervention, known as the RIVER model, which connects bereaved individuals with community resources and support. By partnering with Peer Community Support Partners, the study seeks to provide a structured approach to help those grieving navigate their emotions and reduce the risk of negative health outcomes, such as substance use disorders and prolonged grief. The research will involve collecting data from participants to assess the impact of the intervention on their mental health and coping strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide vital support and resources to families grieving drug overdose deaths, helping them cope with their loss and reduce the risk of substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While peer support interventions for grief have shown promise in other contexts, this specific approach for overdose bereavement is novel and has not yet been rigorously tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Osilla, Karen Chan — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Osilla, Karen Chan
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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.