MedSMA℞T Families in Emergency Departments: A digital game to prevent opioid misuse in teens and families
Official title: Disseminating and Implementing MedSMA℞T Families in Emergency Departments: A Randomized Control Trial to Assess Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Gaming Intervention to Reduce Opioid Misuse
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11424516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, engaging digital game-based program used in emergency departments to help teens and their families learn safer opioid use and reduce misuse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $399,998 |
| NIH project number | 5R18HS030202-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents aged 12–18 and their families who visit the ED and are affected by opioid prescriptions.
✕Less likely to help
Families or youths not using or at risk for opioids may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will test a digital health tool designed for use in emergency departments when an adult is prescribed an opioid. It targets adolescents aged 12–18 and their families to improve knowledge, attitudes, and conversations about opioid safety. Researchers will implement the intervention in a real ED setting, measure how well it reaches families, and compare outcomes to standard care. The team combines pediatricians, emergency medicine experts, behavior scientists, and game designers to adapt and evaluate the intervention for practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce teen opioid misuse by improving family communication and safer medication practices.
How similar studies have gone: Similar digital health and parent–child education interventions have shown promise, but this exact ED-based gaming approach is novel for opioid safety.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abraham, Olufunmilola — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Abraham, Olufunmilola
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.