ISLA: Keeping students in school and away from opioid misuse
Official title: Preventing School Exclusion and Opioid Misuse: Effectiveness of the Inclusive Skill-building Learning Approach (ISLA)
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-11383489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A school-based program called ISLA is being tested to reduce exclusionary discipline and curb opioid and other substance misuse among 8th graders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $729,139 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059401-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11383489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
8th-grade students and their educators in participating public middle schools.
✕Less likely to help
Students in schools not adopting ISLA may not experience the program’s effects.
What this research studies
This project will test ISLA, an instructional and restorative approach designed to replace exclusionary discipline with equitable supports in 60 middle schools across six states. Researchers will use a clustered randomized design to compare ISLA-treated schools with control schools, following students from the end of 6th grade through the end of 8th grade. The study will look at how ISLA affects educational access, quality, and social context, with a focus on reducing disparities and improving student well-being. Implementation data will be collected to understand how the program works in real school settings and what factors influence success.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ISLA could help keep students engaged in school and reduce opioid and substance misuse among youth.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence links respectful, equitable classroom practices to better student outcomes, though this exact ISLA approach is being tested in a large, real-world trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nese, Rhonda — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Nese, Rhonda
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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.