AHRQ Announces Grant Opportunities To Address Opioid Abuse Disorder in Rural Areas

In support of growing federal efforts to reduce the abuse of opioid drugs, AHRQ has issued a funding opportunity announcementfor research to expand access to evidence-based treatment for opioid abuse disorders in rural areas. Up to $12 million will be available to fund as many as four research demonstration projects to support implementation of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in rural primary care practices. MAT is an evidence-based approach that uses Food and Drug Administration-approved medications combined with psychosocial treatments. The projects will explore and test solutions aimed at overcoming barriers to the use of MAT in rural primary care settings. Known barriers include limited continuing training opportunities for prescribing physicians, negative perceptions about people with substance abuse disorders, negative expectations about the effectiveness of treatment and lack of social support services in rural communities. Researchers may examine how online training for physicians, in-office practice coaching and virtual counseling sessions for patients can overcome these and other barriers. The projects will also create training resources to expand patients’ access to MAT. Grant applications are due March 4.