Funded Projects

The overdose crisis has expanded rapidly among adolescent populations in recent years, largely due to illicit substances containing lethal amounts of the highly potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. However, a provider shortage limits access to effective treatment for adolescents with opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders (SUD). Although primary care is a promising setting for expanding delivery of SUD treatment to adolescents, many primary care providers lack the training, resources, and support systems to deliver these services confidently and effectively. This project will leverage a large-scale rollout of integrated behavioral health care in a statewide health system. The research will test whether embedding behavioral health specialists into primary care visits, introducing case management and electronic clinical decision support tools, and reducing stigma will increase delivery of SUD treatment to adolescents.

Recently, concerns have been voiced that medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) may contribute to dental problems, including cavities and tooth loss. These concerns may contribute to barriers preventing use of these medications. A better understanding of the effects of these medications on oral complications is critical. This project will use national databases to link dental, medical, and pharmacy claims data for Medicaid- or commercially-insured new users of various medications for OUD to determine and compare oral health outcomes. The project will also examine the perspectives and experiences of people with OUD on oral health.