# Increasing Referrals to Medications for Opioid Use Disorders from Drug Treatment Courts using Organizational Linkage Intervention

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · 2022 · $54,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This supplement is intended to offset delays in Dr. Pivovarova’s K23 (DA049953) pilot study and training
associated with her maternity leave from 09/01/2020 to 12/01/2020. The supplemental funds will be used towards
hiring a .6 FTE research coordinator to assist Dr. Pivovarova with data collection, analysis, dissemination of
findings, and preparation for R01 grant submission in Year 3 of her K23. Dr. Pivovarova’s K23 award is designed
to obtain training and pilot data necessary to conduct independent research in applying implementation science
to increase access to empirically based substance use disorder (SUD) treatments for justice involved individuals.
Opioid-related drug overdose is a leading cause of death for individuals with justice involvement. Yet, most
individuals in the justice system fail to receive the gold standard treatment for opioid use disorder – medications
for opioid use disorder (MOUDs). Drug treatment courts (DTC) are diversionary programs that leverage legal
sanctions in exchange for mandatory and court-monitored engagement in SUD treatment. There are over 3,100
DTC programs nationwide that manage thousands of offenders in the community with SUDs. Despite their focus
on addiction treatment, DTCs have been slow to incorporate MOUDs. Systemic barriers to use of MOUD in DTCs
have been well documented and include poor communication and lack of collaboration with MOUD providers in
the community. The proposed study directly addresses barriers in communication and referral practices between
DTC and community MOUD providers by adapting an implementation strategy, which has been previously shown
as effective in community corrections programs. The Medication for Opioid Use Disorders Implementation – in
Drug Treatment Courts (MOUDI-DTC) is an implementation strategy that aims to improve interagency
relationships and increase access to MOUDs for high-risk individuals. Using the Consolidated Framework for
Implementation Research (CFIR), a mixed-methods study is being conducted to achieve these specific aims: 1)
evaluate current MOUD referral practices, barriers, facilitators, and readiness for change 2) develop MOUDI-
DTC implementation strategy and manual, 3) implement MOUDI-DTC for 12 months in three DTCs and evaluate
efficacy, acceptance and feasibility of the implementation strategy. The findings will provide preliminary data
about efficacy of MOUDI-DTC on increasing referrals and acceptability and feasibility of MOUDI-DTCs to ultimate
expand and evaluate the strategy nationwide. The findings will also provide pilot data for developing an R01
randomized clinical trial to compare MOUDI-DTC to referral practices as usual in DTCs. More broadly, this
research will lead to development of best-practice guidelines about how DTCs should work with MOUD
community providers to increase access to care and referrals to MOUDs. Completing this study will serve as one
component of a rigorous training plan for Dr. Pivovarova...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10513740
- **Project number:** 3K23DA049953-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Ekaterina Pivovarova
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $54,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-11-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10513740

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10513740, Increasing Referrals to Medications for Opioid Use Disorders from Drug Treatment Courts using Organizational Linkage Intervention (3K23DA049953-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10513740. Licensed CC0.

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