Improving opioid treatment and overdose prevention in rural areas with mobile clinics and peer support
Data-Driven Approaches for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment, Recovery, and Overdose Prevention in Rural Communities via Mobile Health Clinics and Peer Support Services
This project uses mobile health clinics and trained peer support specialists to help people with opioid use disorder in rural communities start and stay on medication and avoid overdoses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clemson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Clemson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11358729 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive care from mobile health clinics that bring medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and services directly to rural communities. Peer support specialists—people with lived experience of recovery—would help you navigate treatment, keep appointments, and address practical barriers. The team will use data-driven methods to decide where clinics go and how services are delivered and will monitor who starts and stays on MOUD and who may be at risk for overdose. Researchers will use those results to refine the mobile clinic and peer support approach for better access and safety.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people in rural or resource-limited areas who have opioid use disorder and can attend mobile clinic visits or work with peer support specialists.
Not a fit: People who live outside the mobile clinic service areas, cannot attend outpatient services, or need intensive inpatient care may not benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase access to MOUD, improve treatment retention, and reduce opioid overdoses in rural communities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows peer support can help people start MOUD but evidence on long-term retention and overdose reduction is mixed, so combining mobile clinics with data-driven delivery is promising but not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Clemson, United States
- Clemson University — Clemson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rennert, Lior — Clemson University
- Study coordinator: Rennert, Lior
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 below.