Whole-person care for chronic pain and opioid use disorder
Official title: Integrative Treatment for Achieving Holistic Recovery from Comorbid Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
Funded at University of New Mexico · NIH-11161508 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program offers combined, personalized treatments to help people with long-term pain and opioid use disorder improve daily functioning and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,041,631 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1DA055301-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161508 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who live with chronic pain and are misusing opioids or have opioid use disorder, including patients receiving medications like buprenorphine and those from Indigenous or rural communities served by UNM, are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with only short-term (acute) pain, those without opioid misuse/OUD, or individuals with medical or safety contraindications to the offered interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
At the University of New Mexico IMPOWR Center, you would be offered integrated, tailored approaches that address both your chronic pain and opioid use together rather than separately. The program emphasizes whole-person functioning, helping you re-engage in valued activities and improve overall well-being. Care will be delivered by trained providers in clinical settings and adapted to meet the needs of different patient groups. The team will use implementation strategies, consultation, and advisory input to make the approaches scalable and sustainable across health care sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with chronic pain and OUD reduce opioid misuse, improve daily functioning, and increase quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Some programs combining medication (like buprenorphine) with behavioral therapies have shown promise, but fully integrated, whole-person approaches like this are relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Witkiewitz, Katie a — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Witkiewitz, Katie a
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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.