Helping people in opioid treatment safely share their recovery and rebuild connections
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-11170550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $532,882 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059557-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults currently receiving treatment for opioid use disorder who feel socially isolated or are thinking about whether to tell family, friends, or others about their recovery.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not in OUD treatment or those in situations where disclosure would be unsafe or likely to cause harm may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
This project offers a brief, one-hour decision aid and toolkit called Disclosing Recovery to teach people in opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment how to make choices about disclosure and build skills like communication and coping. The intervention guides people through whether, why, what, how, and when to share their OUD history or treatment with others, while addressing concerns about stigma and safety. It was pilot tested with 50 people in OUD treatment and will be delivered to people enrolled in treatment settings to see how it affects social connections and engagement in recovery. The approach focuses on practical skills and real-world decision-making to help reduce the cycle where isolation worsens substance use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people in OUD treatment reconnect with supportive relationships, reduce harmful isolation, and lower the chances of continued use or overdose.
How similar studies have gone: Disclosure interventions have helped people with other stigmatized chronic illnesses, but this intervention is the first tailored program for people in OUD treatment and has only been pilot tested in 50 participants so far.
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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Disclosing Recovery: A Tool to Reduce Social Isolation for People Receiving Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
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.
-
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.
-
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.