# Mindful MAT Adherence: Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) to improve extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) adherence and drug-use outcomes for opioid use disorder (OUD).

> **NIH NIH R15** · WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $131,167

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The aims of the parent-study are to determine whether an adjunctive Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention
(MBRP) treatment program improves medication adherence and reduces drug-use among opioid use disorder
(OUD) patients receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). The broad long-term objectives of this project
are to investigate how integrative pharmacological and behavioral treatments improve OUD treatment outcomes.
The aim of this Administrative Supplement to Existing NIH-NIDA Grants proposal is to enhance the focus on
racial health equity issues within the context of the randomized clinical trial (RCT) parent-study.
Although a strong evidence-base exists supporting MAT for OUD, Black Americans often contend with additional
inequities and hardships that may render such approaches less effective. Specifically, exposure to racial
discrimination and subsequent race-based traumatic stress has been linked to drug misuse among Black
Americans. However, these specific variables have not been examined in the context of OUD treatment.
Moreover, there is limited research investigating the general role of race as a moderating factor on OUD
treatment outcome.
Mindfulness (i.e., present-centered nonjudgmental awareness), associates with self-care and addiction severity
among with SUD and has been observed to function as a resilience factor that moderates the relationship
between exposure to racial discrimination and psychiatric symptoms. MBRP is an evidenced-based behavioral
intervention that has demonstrated efficacy in reducing drug-use among patients in SUD recovery. There is a
notable dearth of research examining the role of race, exposure to racial discrimination, and race-based trauma
symptoms on OUD treatment engagement or drug-use outcomes. As there is reason to believe that the
mindfulness training included in MBRP may address race-based trauma symptoms in addition to MAT adherence
and drug-use outcomes, further research is critical to promote mental health equity among Black Americans.
The primary study aim is to determine whether MBRP, compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU), delivered to
Black OUD patients receiving MAT through enrollment in a residential addiction treatment facility, results in (1)
improved MAT adherence, and reduced drug-use following residential discharge and (2) reduced race-based
trauma symptoms. As race-based trauma symptoms are understood to associate with SUD severity, A second
study aim will test the extent to which exposure to racial discrimination and severity of race-based trauma
symptoms predict pre-treatment (1) OUD severity and (2) poorer treatment adherence and increased drug-use
measured following residential discharge for Black TAU participants (but not Black MBRP participants). As prior
trauma exposure is observed to undermine treatment efforts for SUDs a third exploratory study aim will
determine the extent to which reductions in race-based trauma symptoms (pre-to-post MBRP) mediate ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10440607
- **Project number:** 3R15DA050102-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL JOHN GAWRYSIAK
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $131,167
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10440607

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10440607, Mindful MAT Adherence: Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) to improve extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) adherence and drug-use outcomes for opioid use disorder (OUD). (3R15DA050102-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10440607. Licensed CC0.

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