Request for Information (RFI) on Optimal Duration of Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Notice Number: NOT-DA-19-006

Key Dates
Release Date: November 14, 2018
Response Date: December 05, 2018

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable chronic relapsing condition. FDA-approved medications for OUD (MOUD) (e.g., buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone) are associated with reduced illicit opioid use, enhanced retention in treatment, and decreased HCV- and HIV-risk behaviors. At present, the optimal duration of treatment with MOUD is not known. Improving our understanding of this issue is important to optimize the quality of OUD treatment, improve patient outcomes, and utilize health system resources efficiently.

Information Requested:

As part of the NIH’s Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative to speed scientific solutions to the national opioid public health crisis, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is seeking input on new and/or emerging areas of scientific investigation to inform the development of a study to examine the optimal length of MOUD treatment.

This RFI seeks input from the extramural research community and public stakeholders. We are especially interested in input regarding:

  • Emerging areas of science that are most relevant to determining the optimal length of MOUD treatment to sustain recovery

  • Criteria for defining adequate progress in treatment to warrant taper or discontinuation of MOUD

  • Research designs that are most useful to studying the duration of MOUD taking into account different patient subpopulations and treatment settings

  • Different considerations that should be made when evaluating minimal duration of treatment for OUD between the 3 classes of medications (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone)

Submitting a Response:

This NIDA/NIH RFI is open for public comment until 12/05/2018 After the public comment period has closed, all feedback received will be considered by NIDA/NIH.

Responses may be submitted electronically to: udi.ghitza@nih.gov

Responses to this RFI Notice are voluntary. The submitted information will be reviewed by NIH staff and may be made available to the public. Submitted information will not be considered confidential. This request is for information and planning purposes and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation of the federal government or the NIH. No awards will be made based on responses to this Request for Information. The information submitted will be analyzed and may be used in reports or presentations. Those who respond are advised that the NIH is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of your comments or provide comments on your submission. No proprietary, classified, confidential and/or sensitive information should be included in your response. The NIH and the government reserve the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any future solicitation(s).

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Udi E. Ghitza, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-480-2529
Email: udi.ghitza@nih.gov