Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan a $701,964 Project Grant under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) to develop and evaluate a remote, behavioral economics-based intervention for cannabis use disorder (CUD). The project, initiated on June 15, 2026, and concluding March 31, 2031, addresses the critical gap in CUD treatment accessibility, as fewer than 10% of individuals with CUD currently receive care despite affecting approximately 22% of cannabis users. The intervention leverages virtual videoconferencing delivery and behavioral economic approaches to substitute healthier behaviors for cannabis use, designed to engage non-treatment-seeking individuals who would otherwise remain outside traditional substance use disorder treatment systems while supporting harm reduction and wellbeing outcomes.

This research initiative builds on prior work conducted by the University of Michigan in virtually-delivered substance use interventions and aims to increase CUD treatment engagement by reducing barriers associated with traditional in-person care, including stigma and accessibility challenges. The virtually-delivered format allows patients to receive care in preferred locations while enabling proactive outreach to the substantial population of individuals with CUD who are not actively seeking conventional treatments. The project represents an implementation science approach to expand evidence-based treatment access within the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs portfolio, which supports research spanning prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders and related health outcomes.