Investigating pain and medication interactions in older adults at risk for opioid issues

Pain, Multimorbidity, Opioid-Drug Interactions and Risk for Opioid Use Disorder or Overdose in Older Adults

NIH-funded research Ohio State University · NIH-11012319

This study is looking at how older adults with ongoing pain and other health issues might be at risk for problems with opioid use, and it aims to find ways to keep them safe while managing their pain.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOhio State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11012319 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on older adults to explore how uncontrolled pain, multiple chronic conditions, and interactions between opioids and other medications may increase the risk of opioid use disorder or overdose. By conducting longitudinal assessments, the study aims to identify critical factors that contribute to these risks, especially as older adults face unique challenges with pain management and medication use. The findings could help develop targeted interventions to improve safety and treatment outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing uncontrolled pain and taking multiple medications for chronic conditions.

Not a fit: Patients who are not taking opioids or do not have chronic pain conditions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management strategies and reduced risk of opioid misuse among older adults.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research into opioid use and older adults, this specific focus on multimorbidity and drug interactions is relatively novel and has not been extensively studied.

Where this research is happening

Columbus, 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.