Improving access to opioid use disorder treatment in Massachusetts jails
Official title: Implementation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Massachusetts Jails
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11146389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to provide important medications for people struggling with opioid use disorder while they are in jail in Massachusetts, so they can get the help they need and stay safe after they are released.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $32,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F30DA058525-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with opioid use disorder who are currently incarcerated in Massachusetts jails.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not incarcerated or do not have opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on implementing medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) in jails across Massachusetts to address the high rates of overdose deaths among recently released individuals. It aims to identify effective strategies for providing access to these critical treatments within correctional facilities, where many individuals with OUD may not receive adequate healthcare. By studying the implementation process, the research seeks to enhance the availability of evidence-based treatments, ultimately aiming to reduce mortality rates associated with opioid use. The approach involves collaboration with correctional facilities to ensure that individuals receive the necessary medications during and after incarceration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce opioid-related deaths among individuals transitioning from incarceration to the community.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing medications for opioid use disorder in correctional settings can lead to improved health outcomes, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Michener, Pryce — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Michener, Pryce
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Optimizing long-acting PrEP and opioid treatment for people in jails and prisons
This project tests a real-world approach to using long-acting PrEP and buprenorphine for HIV prevention and opioid treatment among incarcerated individuals and after release.
-
Scaling up medications for opioid use disorder in residential treatment programs
This grant studies how to help residential treatment programs provide medications for opioid use disorder to reduce overdoses after discharge, focusing on real-world settings and policies.
-
Increasing Capacity at a Native Community Clinic to Improve Opioid Care for urban AI/AN
This grant helps a Native American health clinic build its research capacity to better serve urban American Indian and Alaska Native people dealing with opioid use disorder and related health issues.
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.