Peer recovery support to help people stay in outpatient MOUD care
Official title: Evaluation of a peer recovery support program adapted to target retention in clinic-based medication for opioid use disorder treatment
Funded at Geisinger Clinic · NIH-11394618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project tests whether peer support from people with lived experience can help patients stay in outpatient medication for opioid use disorder longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Geisinger Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Danville, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,508 |
| NIH project number | 5R33DA059880-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder receiving outpatient MOUD who are in or at risk of dropping out of treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not enrolled in MOUD or those not receptive to peer support may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will adapt peer recovery support for use in outpatient MOUD clinics and test whether it improves how long patients stay in treatment. It will use stakeholder input and the PRISM framework to make the program practical and implementable in real clinics. The study will be conducted across diverse MOUD clinics to understand how well the peer support works in different settings. Results will be aimed at helping clinics keep patients engaged and reduce overdose risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may stay in MOUD longer, improving recovery and reducing overdose risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests peer support can aid engagement, but rigorous evidence in outpatient MOUD is limited and this study seeks to fill that gap.
Where this research is happening
-
Geisinger Clinic
Danville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poulsen, Melissa — Geisinger Clinic
- Study coordinator: Poulsen, Melissa
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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.