Using smartphone apps to help prevent relapse in people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Neurocognitive Mechanisms Underlying Smartphone-Assisted Prevention of Relapse in Opioid Use Disorder
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-10844489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smartphone app called OPTiMA to see if it can help people with opioid use disorder stay on track and avoid relapse, by giving them daily check-ins and personalized tips, while comparing it to a group that only gets regular monitoring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $505,026 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA048022-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10844489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults undergoing medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently receiving treatment for opioid use disorder or those who do not have access to smartphones may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a smartphone application called OPTiMA, designed to help individuals with opioid use disorder prevent relapse. Participants will be randomly assigned to either use the app, which includes daily self-monitoring and personalized feedback, or to a control group that only receives monitoring. The study aims to understand how the app influences opioid use over six months and to explore the brain mechanisms involved in treatment response through neuroimaging. By leveraging mobile technology, the research seeks to provide innovative support for those undergoing medication-assisted treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a valuable tool for individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder, potentially reducing relapse rates and improving treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While smartphone apps have shown success in reducing other substance use, this specific approach for opioid use disorder is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: James, George Andrew — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: James, George Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Real-time relapse risk scoring for Opioid Use Disorder from trial data
A tool that uses data from opioid treatment trials to produce a real-time score predicting a patient’s risk of relapse in the near future.
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Smartphone app helps people on opioid treatment stay abstinent
A smartphone app called OPTiMA supports people on medication-assisted treatment to stay in recovery by daily self-checks and personalized feedback.
-
Predicting Relapse Risk for Opioid Use Disorder
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This study is looking at how being overly optimistic might affect people with opioid use disorder and their chances of relapsing, so we can better understand their decision-making and help create more effective treatment plans.
-
Predicting relapse risk for patients with Opioid Use Disorder
This study is working on a new tool that helps doctors predict the chances of someone with Opioid Use Disorder relapsing, using information like their treatment habits and drug tests, so they can provide better support when it's needed most.
-
Combining buprenorphine with extended-release naltrexone to prevent opioid relapse
This project checks whether adding daily buprenorphine to monthly extended‑release naltrexone helps people with opioid use disorder stay off opioids.
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.