Peer recovery support to help people stay on medication for opioid use disorder
Evaluation of a Peer Recovery Support Program Adapted to Target Retention in Clinic-based Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
This project will see if meeting with trained peer recovery supporters helps people with opioid use disorder stay on their medication treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 218 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 89 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Geisinger Clinic Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Danville, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT07197801 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will compare two groups of adults starting medication for opioid use disorder at a Geisinger outpatient clinic: one group offered standard care plus a peer recovery support program and one group offered standard care alone. Participants will complete a baseline questionnaire and a 6-month follow-up questionnaire and will allow researchers to access their medical records for treatment and retention data. Those in the peer-support group will be invited to meet with trained peers who have lived experience of addiction and recovery to help engagement and retention. The main outcome is retention in medication treatment over six months.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older who started medication for opioid use disorder within the past 45 days at a Geisinger outpatient clinic and who can give informed consent and speak English are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not proficient in English, who received medication for opioid use disorder at a Geisinger outpatient clinic in the 90 days before starting treatment, or who do not receive care at Geisinger clinics are not likely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase how long people stay on medication for opioid use disorder, which may reduce relapse and overdose risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous peer recovery support programs have shown promising improvements in engagement and retention in addiction care, but results have been mixed and more controlled comparisons are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult ≥ 18 years of age * Initiated medication for opioid use disorder treatment in past 45 days in a Geisinger outpatient clinic * Willing and able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Received medication for opioid use disorder treatment at a Geisinger outpatient clinic in the 90-day period prior to the treatment initiation date * Not proficient in English
Where this trial is running
Danville, Pennsylvania
- Geisinger Clinic — Danville, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Melissa Poulsen, PhD — Geisinger Clinic
- Study coordinator: Project Manager
- Email: PEERS@geisinger.edu
- Phone: 1-866-910-6486, Option 3
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.