Why people mix opioids with other drugs and how care can be improved
Preferences and predictors driving opioid-involved polysubstance use profiles and trajectories: Implications for improving care
This project looks at what motivates adults who use opioids to also use other drugs and how care can be changed to reduce overdoses and improve treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11364673 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to complete surveys, behavioral-economic tasks, and allow researchers to use your clinical records so they can learn why people who use opioids also use stimulants, alcohol, or other substances. The team will measure how much people value different drugs and how they weigh risks like overdose to identify high-risk patterns such as injection or simultaneous use. They will combine patient-reported information with existing healthcare data and follow people over time to map use trajectories and preferences. Results will be used to recommend practical changes clinics could make to better prevent overdoses and connect people to effective treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who use opioids along with other substances (for example stimulants or alcohol), including people seen in primary care, mental health, or addiction treatment settings.
Not a fit: People who do not use opioids or who only use a single substance are unlikely to benefit directly from this project, and it may not provide immediate help for urgent medical needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more tailored treatments and better overdose-prevention services for people who use opioids with other substances.
How similar studies have performed: Behavioral-economics methods have provided useful insights into substance-use choices in prior work, but applying these measures specifically to opioid-involved polysubstance trajectories and tailoring clinical care is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coughlin, Lara Nicole — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Coughlin, Lara Nicole
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 below.