Peer Helping, Retention, and Relapse in Sober Living Houses
Project Number: 5R01AA028252
PI: Douglas Polcin, EdD
Sub-PI: Meenakshi Subbaraman, PhD
Sober living houses (SLHs) are alcohol- and drug-free living environments for persons attempting to abstain from substances and develop a long-term program of recovery. Studies have shown residents in these homes make significant, sustained improvements in multiple areas of functioning, including abstinence from alcohol. One of the strongest and most consistent predictors of relapse is shorter retention in the house. Focus groups with SLH managers suggest peer helping enhances retention, commitment to the household, and commitment to recovery. Building upon an ongoing longitudinal study of SLHs, the proposed study will assess the relative impact of helping behaviors on retention, and in turn, on relapse.
Alcohol and pregnancy: benefits and harms of state-level policies
Project Number 5R01AA023267
PI: Sarah Roberts, DrPH
Sub-PI: Meenakshi Subbaraman, PhD
Previous research finds state-level policies targeting alcohol use during pregnancy at best have had no impact on drinking during pregnancy or related outcomes and, at worst, contribute to public health harms. Understanding effects of these policies is crucial to our ability to adopt and implement policies that will lead to reductions in harm from alcohol use during pregnancy. This project examines impacts of state pregnancy-specific alcohol policies and expands focus to identify general population alcohol policies that reduce harms related to alcohol use during pregnancy.
Trajectories of Cannabis Use in Pregnancy
Project Number: 1R01DA054953
PI: Katrina Mark, MD
Biostatistician: Meenakshi Subbaraman, PhD
This project aims to more clearly define if and how women change their cannabis use after recognition of pregnancy by following women throughout their pregnancy and quantifying use each month. Additionally, we intend to identify potentially modifiable factors that are associated with continued cannabis use during pregnancy in order to improve counseling and treatment efforts with a goal of improving pregnancy outcomes. We will also compare birth outcomes between women who continue to use, quit using or never used cannabis during pregnancy.
Enhancing Effectiveness Research on Recovery Housing for Persons Prescribed Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Project Number: 1R24DA051974
PI: Amy Mericle, PhD
Biostatistician: Meenakshi Subbaraman, PhD
Recovery housing may be a critical component in a comprehensive response to the current opioid crisis, but evidence-based practices in recovery housing for those being treated with medications for opioid use disorders are lacking. By developing a national multi-stakeholder network, hosting webinars for researchers and recovery housing providers, and supporting mentored pilot studies for new recovery housing researchers, this project aims to develop the infrastructure necessary to begin developing this evidence base.
Recovery Housing for Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders: A National Study of Availability, Characteristics, and Factors Associated with Evidence-based Practices
Project Number: 5R01AA027782
PI: Amy Mericle, PhD
Co-I: Meenakshi Subbaraman, PhD
Recovery housing is a promising way to improve outcomes among those in recovery, but critical gaps in the scientific literature remain because we lack key information about the availability and nature of this recovery resource. By developing a national database of recovery residences and surveying a stratified random sample of residences across the country, this application will significantly enhance our understanding of this component of the service delivery system.
A National Longitudinal Study of the Impact of COVID-19 on Recovery Residences
Project Number: 3R01AA027782
PI: Amy Mericle, PhD
Co-I: Meenakshi Subbaraman, PhD
COVID Supplement: The COVID-19 pandemic may be particularly harmful to the physical health and wellbeing of those in recovery from alcohol and other drug disorders. Among individuals in recovery from these disorders, those living in recovery housing are among the most vulnerable. By conducting a national longitudinal survey of recovery residences, this study will provide requisite data to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on recovery housing and how recovery residences are responding to it.
