NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans

Official title: Counteracting Structural Barriers to Increase Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Among Unhoused Montanans

Funded at Open Aid Alliance · NIH-11578581 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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.

More Opioid Use research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOpen Aid Alliance
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Missoula, United States)
Project startSeptember 22, 2023
Project endSeptember 21, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$499,806
NIH project number3OT2OD035589-01S3
Project IDNIH-11578581 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Unhoused adults with opioid use disorder who access one of the five syringe service programs in Montana.

Less likely to help

Individuals who do not use or wish to avoid MOUD, or those not connected to SSPs, may not benefit from these interventions.

What this research studies

People experiencing homelessness in Montana face major barriers to MOUD, including stigma, Medicaid issues, and instability that makes treatment hard to maintain. The project will place MOUD services within five syringe service programs across urban and rural areas, including sites near American Indian reservations. It will use three proven approaches—a syringe-service-based MOUD program, a nurse-led MOUD model, and peer navigators—to help clients start and stay on treatment, tracking engagement and treatment duration along the OUD care cascade. Results will indicate how well these integrated services improve MOUD initiation and duration among SSP clients. The work aligns with real-world needs and aims to expand access to life-saving treatment for a high-need, underserved population.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the project could substantially increase MOUD initiation and duration for unhoused individuals, reducing overdose risk and improving health and stability.

How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that syringe-service-based MOUD, nurse-led models, and peer navigation can improve engagement in care for underserved populations, though setting-specific results are still evolving.

Where this research is happening

  • Open Aid Alliance
    Missoula, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ramos, Rebecca — Open Aid Alliance
  • Study coordinator: Ramos, Rebecca

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.