Helping Women Leaving Prison Avoid Overdose

An innovative, trauma-informed approach for reducing overdose risk among women re-entering the community from prison

NIH-funded research University of Kentucky · NIH-11357343

This project helps women transitioning from prison back into their communities to reduce their risk of overdose by offering special support.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Kentucky NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Lexington, United States)
Project IDNIH-11357343 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Overdose deaths are a serious concern, especially for women, and current prevention methods often don't address their unique needs, particularly for those who have been in the criminal legal system. This project aims to create and test a new, supportive program specifically for women leaving prison. It focuses on understanding their past experiences with substance use and violence to provide tailored care. The program will include group sessions while in prison and ongoing support after they return to their communities, adapting a trauma-informed approach.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are women with a history of substance use and violence who are preparing to re-enter the community from prison.

Not a fit: Patients who are not justice-involved women or are not at risk for overdose may not directly benefit from this specific program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly lower overdose rates among women re-entering society after prison, improving their health and well-being.

How similar studies have performed: This project adapts an existing framework to a new population, building on previous research but applying it in an innovative way for this specific group.

Where this research is happening

Lexington, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.