Workforce and System Change to Treat Adolescent Opioid Use Disorder in Pediatric Primary Care
Official title: Workforce and System Change to Treat Adolescent Opioid Use Disorder within Integrated Pediatric Primary Care
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11380873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program aims to help doctors and clinics better identify and treat teens and young adults with opioid or substance use issues within pediatric care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,210,712 |
| NIH project number | 5R33DA059948-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults with any substance use or occasional opioid exposure who receive care in pediatric primary care settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to primary care services or not involved in SUD/OUD pathways may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on adolescents and young adults who are at risk of overdose and may use opioids or other substances. It explores how primary care clinics can partner with behavioral health specialists to provide timely, age-appropriate SUD/OUD care. The plan includes training PCPs, creating streamlined assessment and treatment workflows, and testing new care models to reach youth where they receive care. The goal is to reduce overdose risk by improving access to effective, youth-centered services in primary care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase access to early SUD/OUD treatment for adolescents in primary care, potentially lowering overdose risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests integrated primary care–behavioral health models can improve access and care for youth with SUD/OUD, with room for further optimization.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hulvershorn, Leslie a. — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Hulvershorn, Leslie a.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Bringing opioid use treatment for teens into primary care clinics
This project trains and supports pediatric primary care teams to find and treat teens who use opioids so they can get medications like buprenorphine and counseling at their regular clinic.
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Improving treatment for adolescents with opioid use disorder in primary care settings
This study is looking to improve how we help teenagers dealing with opioid use problems by bringing in behavioral health specialists to work alongside their regular doctors, making it easier for them to get the support they need.
-
Improving primary care for opioid use disorder and depression
This study is exploring a new way to help people with opioid use disorder and depression by using a team approach in primary care, where a care manager supports patients through phone calls to make it easier for them to get the treatment they need and improve their mental health.
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Finding patients with opioid use disorder who frequently use healthcare services to improve their primary care.
This study is looking for people with opioid use disorder who often visit healthcare facilities, and it aims to create new ways to help them get better care for both their addiction and any other health issues they might have.
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Improving self-management for patients with opioid use disorder and serious mental illness
This study is working on a program to help people with opioid use disorder and serious mental health issues learn to manage their health better, with support from their doctors and healthcare teams.
-
Improving access to opioid treatment in rural areas using buprenorphine
This study is looking at how to make it easier for rural Veterans to get buprenorphine, a helpful medication for treating opioid use disorder, so they can receive the care they need just like those in cities.
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.