# Impact of PTSD and trauma reexposure on buprenorphine maintenance treatment in syringe exchange programs

> **NIH NIH R01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $103,720

## Abstract

In the United States, opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths are increasing; yet
80% of people with OUD remain out of treatment. Operating in 33 states, syringe exchange
programs (SEPs), which provide sterile syringes and other health services to people who inject
drugs, are a key venue to reach out-of-treatment opioid users. In a 24-week randomized
controlled trial based in a large urban area with high rates of OUD and HIV, Project BLOOM
(R01DA044878, [PI: Fox]) will recruit 250 out-of-treatment opioid users who utilize SEPs and
randomize 1:1 to onsite buprenorphine treatment (O-BMT) or enhanced referral. Over two
weeks, participants in the O-BMT condition will see a buprenorphine provider twice onsite,
receive weekly medication packs, and then their care will be transferred to a community health
center for maintenance buprenorphine treatment. The proposed diversity supplement will
support Dr. Teresa López-Castro, a clinical psychologist and early-stage investigator, to
study barriers to engagement in buprenorphine treatment that are related to Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic event re-exposure. Project BLOOM has
identified structural barriers to OUD treatment and is testing SEP-based buprenorphine initiation
as a way to minimize delays in starting buprenorphine treatment. However, PTSD and the
experiencing of new traumatic events (traumatic event re-exposure) are exceedingly common
among people with OUD, affect drug use behaviors, and will likely modify O-BMT’s effects.
Thus designing novel engagement and treatment strategies requires consideration of PTSD and
traumatic event re-exposure. The objectives of the proposed mixed methods study are two-fold:
(1) to quantitatively evaluate the moderating effect of PTSD and traumatic event re-exposure on
the efficacy of O-BMT; and (2) to collect qualitative data from stakeholders (SEP consumers
and staff) on the PTSD-related treatment needs for IDUs. The proposed two-year diversity
supplement will create generalizable knowledge regarding how PTSD and traumatic event re-
exposure impact buprenorphine treatment efficacy. The application also proposes a
comprehensive career development plan that will also support Dr. López-Castro’s further
development as a clinical investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10115954
- **Project number:** 3R01DA044878-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Aaron D Fox
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $103,720
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10115954

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10115954, Impact of PTSD and trauma reexposure on buprenorphine maintenance treatment in syringe exchange programs (3R01DA044878-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10115954. Licensed CC0.

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