# Peer Recovery Innovation Network (PRIN)

> **NIH NIH R24** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 2022 · $1,861,081

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 The US is in the midst of an opioid-related overdose crisis made starkly clear by the unprecedented 100,000
drug overdose deaths in the US in just 12 months (April 2020-April 2021). In addition to the evidence that
medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) reduces morbidity and mortality, data suggest that recovery support
services (RSS) enhance treatment initiation and care transitions and may sustain treatment engagement and
long-term recovery. Peer RSS (PRSS) are an emerging domain designed to support long-term sustained
recovery processes for those with opioid (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD). Peers are individuals
with lived experience with an SUD who have specialized training in supporting others during their recovery
process by providing non-clinical linkages to treatment such as mentorship, referrals for medical illnesses,
occupational training, housing, and education. However, the evidence base for PRSS still has gaps in knowledge
that hinder their broader adoption of this approach.
 Addressing PRSS knowledge gaps will inform development and expansion of services and strengthen the
system of care that those with OUD may use to initiate and maintain recovery. However, the evidence base for
PRSS still has gaps in knowledge that hinder their broader adoption of this approach. The lack of systematic
integration and collaboration between researchers and community-based organizations (e.g., PRSS
organizations) and an underdeveloped pipeline of future recovery scientists are significant barriers to addressing
these empirical and practice gaps. The proposed research network in this application addresses each of these,
with a focus on stakeholder engagement in research agenda-setting, enhancing the infrastructure for PRSS
recovery science research, and accelerating the growth of the PRSS evidence base in our priority areas and
populations, with training and telementoring (i.e., provided through technology) being key approaches to these
goals.
 This application for a Peer Recovery Innovation Network (PRIN) will expand recovery science by
developing a research program on PRSS during MOUD treatment using a novel agenda-setting approach and
an associated Collaboratory, training and mentoring, and infrastructure development. Our Specific Aims are to:
Aim 1: Establish the Recovery Science Collaboratory to include multiple stakeholders, including individuals with
lived recovery experience, to accelerate the pace of innovation in recovery science; Aim 2: Establish the
Recovery Science Training and Telementoring program within our existing substance use training and
telementoring center, to rapidly expand the recovery science workforce; and Aim 3: Conduct process-, outcome-,
and implementation-based evaluations of the Peer Recovery Innovation Network and recovery science initiatives
in PRIN to optimize the impact, efficiency, and effectiveness for fostering recovery science and monitoring
outcomes using defined measu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10590310
- **Project number:** 1R24DA057659-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Ashford
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,861,081
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-30 → 2026-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10590310

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10590310, Peer Recovery Innovation Network (PRIN) (1R24DA057659-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10590310. Licensed CC0.

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