Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) combined with behavioral therapy is the standard of care for OUD, but in 2021 only 22% of patients received MOUD. Nearly 50% received no treatment at all, while two-thirds of those on MOUD discontinued within six months. Research shows the need for interventions that promote both initiation and retention on MOUD. Studies also indicate that reducing stigma, addressing quality of life, and involving a concerned significant other such as a parent or other family member may improve outcomes.
This project responds to HEAL RFA-DA-23-053 to “address the overdose crisis” with a smartphone intervention that incorporates all of these considerations. This project will (1) develop a digital intervention designed to both prompt individuals to initiate MOUD and stay on it by involving a concerned significant other (e.g., parent, spouse), using contingency management to reward engagement, and offering a menu of services and dynamic content regarding MOUD, communication, change process, stigma, behavioral health, and more, (2) test the effectiveness of the intervention on opioid use and quality of life outcomes in a large, 12-month trial comparing patient–partner dyads using the intervention vs patient–partner dyads in a control group, and (3) reach out to affected individuals regardless of treatment status or locality via public media. The proposed study has the potential to impact millions of Americans with opioid use disorder, whether in treatment or not, at a time when effective, accessible interventions are needed more than ever to address this devastating crisis.