Opioid misuse is epidemic in the United States and is associated with alarming rates of overdose and overdose deaths. Additionally, opioid misuse is associated with innumerable costs to individuals, families, communities, and society. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in combination with psychosocial intervention, is the most effective treatment for OUDs; however, many individuals are unable to access treatment, are not sufficiently retained in treatment, or experience barriers that prohibit their participation in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Solutions to the opioid crisis will require an “all hands on deck” approach which includes the provision of effective pharmacological treatment coupled with formal treatment as well as critical recovery support services tailored to individual needs. As such, it is critical to 1. develop integrated networks of care, both formal and informal, to better address the needs of individuals with OUDs, and 2. to measure the efficacy of these integrated networks for addressing the needs of individuals with OUDs. This proposed project will bring together a diverse set of OUD treatment system stakeholders that work to build a learning collaborative to address gaps in knowledge about the delivery, sustainability, and assessment of recovery service for individuals on MAT and to foster collaboration and communication between these stakeholders and with the larger community of research and providers interested in improving the delivery of OUD recovery support services (OUD-RSS).

Opioid overdoses have increased for the last 20 years. Fortunately, there are evidence-based Medication Assisted Treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Unfortunately, fewer than 20% of individuals with OUD receive specialty treatment, and fewer receive optimal evidence-based treatment. It is clear that medication alone will not solve the current opioid epidemic; as a result, national organizations, such as SAMSHA, have emphasized the need for further development of a Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care. This NIDA R24 Project will develop a community-academic partnership to address the lack of evidence regarding recovery support services.