National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) research priorities to support the development of incentive-based treatments for substance use disorders

• Published in: Preventive medicine Vol. 176; p. 107650
• Main Authors: Aklin, Will M., Herrmann, Evan S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Abstinence-contingent incentives; Behavior change; Digital health interventions; NIDA; Behavior change; Abstinence-contingent incentives; Digital health interventions; NIDA
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107650

The purpose of this commentary is to highlight current research priorities of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences (DTMC) regarding the development and testing of incentive-based interventions for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). This manuscript summarizes the NIH Stage Model for behavioral intervention development, briefly reviews existing research on inventive-based treatments for SUDs that falls within the scope of DTMC at NIDA and highlights the development of digital therapeutics-based incentive interventions as an exemplar and high priority area. We briefly review how digital therapeutics approaches may address some common limitations to dissemination of incentive-based interventions and highlight opportunities for integrating incentive-based approaches into pharmacotherapy efficacy trials. Finally, we mention several related funding opportunities for researchers interested in developing incentive-based approaches for SUD treatment. The overall goal of this commentary is to inform the research community of current NIDA priority areas for intervention development and funding. •NIDA remains committed to the development of incentive-based treatments for SUD.•The NIH Stage Model can guide the development of incentive-based treatments.•Development of disseminable, self-sustaining interventions is a priority.•Digital health/digital therapeutic approaches are particularly promising.•Several funding opportunities for intervention development are highlighted.