IU researchers use $1M grant to study methadone
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Indiana University School of Nursing researchers have received a $1 million National Institute on Drug Abuse grant to study a treatment known to reduce overdose deaths.
The “Methadone Patient Access to Collaborative Treatment” project, or MPACT, will study the use of methadone, establish a treatment protocol and will be paired with a four-part, staff-focused intervention to improve care and reduce work-related trauma, IU said.
IU Assistant Professor Dr. Greg Carter says improving methadone treatment is a key component of addressing the opioid epidemic.
“Despite ongoing efforts to address this crisis, there continues to be a significant need for more effective treatments and interventions,” Carter said in a news release. “Methadone treatment aligns with the broader societal need for compassionate and effective responses to addiction, underscoring the importance of understanding and improving this method of treatment.”
Carter is also a registered nurse and a member of the Harm Reduction Research Lab in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
The research team consists of members from IU, the University of Arizona, New York University, the University of Kentucky and Western Michigan University. They will work with Community Medical Services, and the Arizona Drug Policy Research and Advocacy Board will be a consult.
“This groundbreaking multi-year study represents a first step in assessing the viability, reception, and initial impact of MPACT on both patient and staff outcomes,” Carter said. “As we reach our predetermined milestones in the pilot program, the subsequent funding phases will fuel the expansion of the MPACT study across 30 clinics in the U.S., encompassing 600 patients and 450 staff members.”
The two-year grant is the first of two phases of multi-year funding for the team.