Improving health system care for people with substance use disorders

Health Systems Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network

NIH-funded research Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11261241

Trying new ways to help adults and young people with substance use get safer, more accessible treatment through health systems.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionKaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11261241 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

As someone affected by substance use, this effort works with health systems to make treatment easier to access and safer. The team runs real-world programs across many clinics to try approaches like nurse care managers, wider use of medications such as buprenorphine, and outreach to people using opioids, stimulants, or cannabis. They use pragmatic, multi-site trials and improved measures to track outcomes and apply statistical methods to learn what works at scale. The goal is to reduce overdoses and increase use of effective care in routine medical settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults and adolescents with substance use or substance use disorders—including opioid, stimulant, or cannabis use—who receive care in participating health systems are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without substance use problems, or those who do not receive care at participating clinics or health systems, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could make it easier for people with substance use disorders to start and stay in effective treatments and reduce overdose deaths.

How similar studies have performed: Previous CTN work has shown nurse care managers and pragmatic trials can increase opioid use disorder treatment, though addressing fentanyl, polysubstance use, and rising cannabis harms remains challenging.

Where this research is happening

Oakland, 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 2026-06-13 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.