Improving safe opioid tapering using mindfulness techniques
Official title: Optimizing Patient-Centered Opioid Tapering with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11228324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping people with chronic pain who are using opioids for a long time to safely cut back on their medication using a friendly approach that combines mindfulness and helpful strategies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $3,137,034 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DA058621-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228324 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with chronic pain who are currently receiving long-term opioid therapy and may be experiencing issues related to opioid misuse.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on long-term opioid therapy or those who do not have chronic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on helping patients with chronic pain who are on long-term opioid therapy to safely reduce their opioid use. It employs a novel approach called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement, which combines mindfulness practices with behavioral strategies to address the underlying issues of opioid misuse. The goal is to create a patient-centered tapering process that minimizes risks associated with opioid withdrawal and misuse. By understanding the brain's reward systems, the research aims to provide effective support for patients during their tapering journey.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective methods for tapering off opioids, reducing the risk of misuse and improving overall patient well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using mindfulness and behavioral interventions for managing chronic pain and reducing opioid misuse, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garland, Eric Lee — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Garland, Eric Lee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mindfulness and Self-Hypnosis for Pain in Older Adults
This grant tests non-drug ways like mindfulness and self-hypnosis to help people over 60 manage chronic pain.
-
Mindfulness-based Support for Pain and Sleep in Young People with Sickle Cell Disease
A digital mindfulness program is being tailored for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease to help with pain and sleep and is being tested for practicality and early effectiveness.
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Mindfulness training to lower cardiovascular risk for moms and babies during pregnancy
A mindfulness program is being tested during pregnancy to help prevent high blood pressure and heart problems for mothers and their babies.
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Mindfulness-enhanced brain stimulation for depression
This project tests whether combining a breath-focused attention training with targeted brain stimulation helps people with treatment-resistant depression think more clearly and feel better.
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Optimizing Opioid Tapering with Mindfulness for Chronic Pain
A patient-friendly program tests a mindfulness-based approach to help adults with chronic pain reduce long-term opioid use safely.
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Prenatal mindfulness and inflammatory pathways to support mom and baby health
A study from Oregon Health & Science University will explore how mindfulness during pregnancy might influence inflammatory signals and improve emotional well-being for mothers and healthy development for their children.
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.