# Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Family-Based Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults

> **NIH NIH F32** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $69,375

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Adolescents and young adults (AYA) have been severely affected by the opioid epidemic. In 2016 alone, over
4,000 AYA died from opioids, totaling 230,694 years of premature life lost. When left untreated or ineffectively
treated, AYA with OUD experience an array of negative health outcomes including legal involvement, school
dropout, family conflict, sexually transmitted infections, and death. Thus, increasing access to evidence-based
treatments for AYA with OUD is a priority of great public health importance. The front-line evidence-based
treatment for AYA with symptoms of dependency is pharmacotherapy; however, documented poor abstinence
rates and rising overdose rates have highlighted the urgent need to augment pharmacotherapy with behavioral
treatment. For AYA, there is critical consensus from multiple national organizations that treatment should use a
developmentally sensitive, family-based approach. Family-based treatment approaches (FBT) have been
evaluated rigorously, demonstrated effectiveness among AYA (particularly those age 12-20), and are endorsed
for use with AYA up to age 25. Yet, the availability of FBT for AYA in community OUD treatment centers
remains low. The current study aims to conduct a mixed-methods examination of systems-level barriers and
facilitators to implementation of FBT approaches for AYA with OUD in community opioid treatment clinics,
theoretically guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Building upon the
Primary Sponsor’s NIDA-funded parent study, data collection will occur in partnership with 12 opioid treatment
centers throughout Rhode Island. Participants will be key informants with the ability to influence services
offered within the opioid treatment system including clinic leaders, front-line treatment providers, policy makers,
and patient advocates. Comprehensive data collection strategies include in-depth, semi-structured interviews
as well as surveys utilizing a combination of validated implementation science measures and items derived
from identified themes in qualitative interviews. Knowledge gained will be translated into customized feedback
and recommendations about specific implementation strategies for each opioid treatment clinic. Policy makers
and advocates will receive a summary of barriers and facilitators throughout the state with recommendations
for specific policy actions. A highly structured training plan will ensure execution of the proposed research
aims. Specifically, the candidate will receive training in (1) implementation science, (2) OUD in AYA, (3) FBT
for AYA, (4) mixed-methods approaches, and (5) advocacy, grant writing, and manuscript preparation. Training
will be guided by a stellar mentorship team with highly relevant expertise and long-standing track records of
successful mentorship. The proposed research and training plan is further supported by the rich training
environment at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brow...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982042
- **Project number:** 5F32DA049440-02
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa Pielech
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $69,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982042

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982042, Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Family-Based Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults (5F32DA049440-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982042. Licensed CC0.

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