Helping women involved in the criminal justice system overcome opioid use disorder.

Opioid Use Disorder among Criminal Justice-Involved Women: Integrating Trauma-Informed and Gender-Specific Care with Medication-Assisted Treatment

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10895400

This study is all about helping women in the criminal justice system who are dealing with opioid addiction by connecting them to treatment and support services, while also teaching them how to handle overdoses, so they can improve their health and well-being.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10895400 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on addressing the unique challenges faced by women involved in the criminal justice system who are struggling with opioid use disorder. It aims to connect these women to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs and essential social services while providing training on how to respond to opioid overdoses. The approach includes conducting interviews with women, treatment providers, and criminal justice professionals to identify barriers to treatment and developing a tailored intervention that incorporates peer support. A pilot study will then assess the effectiveness of this intervention in helping women reduce opioid use and improve their overall health outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are women who have recently been involved in the criminal justice system and are struggling with opioid use disorder.

Not a fit: Patients who are not involved in the criminal justice system or do not have an opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to treatment and support for women with opioid use disorder, leading to better health outcomes and reduced recidivism.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in using trauma-informed and gender-specific approaches to improve treatment outcomes for women with substance use disorders, suggesting this approach may be effective.

Where this research is happening

University Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.