Helping families coping with overdose bereavement and substance use support
Official title: Families left behind: Addressing prolonged grief and substance use disorders among people bereaved by drug overdose deaths
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11454648 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly program tests a peer grief support approach to help people who lost loved ones to overdose and may also help reduce risky substance use.
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, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,081,303 |
| NIH project number | 4R33DA062335-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454648 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who have lost a loved one to an overdose and are seeking support.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not experiencing bereavement related to overdose or those unwilling to engage with peer support.
What this research studies
This project teams with peer supporters and a proven grief model to help adults who are grieving an overdose death. It aims to test whether the peer-led grief support can lessen distress, reduce stigma, and connect participants with resources. The study combines real-world community practice with research to understand impacts on grief, mental health, and substance use behaviors. It is centered on people 21 and older who are navigating loss, stigma, and potentially increased substance use after an overdose in the family.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience less grief-related distress and better access to support resources and services.
How similar studies have gone: Peer grief support has shown promise in other contexts, but this specific overdose-bereavement program is being 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.