Families Left Behind
Public ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT06854757. Field values are reproduced from the official study page; the official ClinicalTrials.gov record remains the source of truth for eligibility, enrollment, and contact information.
Data is sourced from official ClinicalTrials.gov public API records. Always review the official ClinicalTrials.gov record for the latest information.
Official title
Families Left Behind: Addressing Prolonged Grief and Substance Use Disorders Among People Bereaved by Drug Overdose Deaths
Brief summary
Reproduced verbatim from the official ClinicalTrials.gov record. Not medical advice.
The United States is facing unprecedented rates of drug overdose deaths, profoundly impacting millions of families who are left to navigate their grief. Those bereaved by overdose experience a unique form of grief characterized by feelings of guilt, shame, and blame, which can worsen their suffering and deter them from seeking help. Individuals coping with overdose loss often endure more severe health consequences compared to those grieving non-drug related deaths, including prolonged grief disorder, substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Moreover, bereaved individuals, particularly those with a history of substance use, may engage in risky behaviors as a means of coping, further exacerbating the risk of overdose and mortality within this vulnerable population. Peer grief support interventions have emerged as a promising approach to assist those experiencing such losses. To combat these outcomes, we are collaborating with Peer Community Support Partners (PSCP) in a novel practice-research partnership to implement the RIVER peer grief support model. Though RIVER has shown success in community settings, it has yet to be rigorously evaluated. In a three-aim approach, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of the RIVER model while also enhancing and engaging grievers with support resources via medical examiner offices (MEOs), which routinely contact families during death investigations. This research represents a pivotal advancement in addressing the needs of the overlooked bereaved community, aligning with the NIH's Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative to develop effective strategies against the opioid crisis. Together, community engagement and rigorous research efforts aim to enhance support for those affected by the tragedy of drug overdose.
Study identification
- NCT ID
- NCT06854757
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Enrollment
- 340 participants
Conditions and interventions
Eligibility (public fields only)
- Age range
- 18 Years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Healthy volunteers not accepted
This page does not interpret eligibility. Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria are on the official ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Study timeline
- Start date
- Jun 12, 2025
- Primary completion
- Aug 28, 2026
- Completion
- Sep 30, 2030
- Last update posted
- Aug 20, 2025
2025 – 2030
United States locations
- U.S. sites
- 4
- U.S. states
- 4
- U.S. cities
- 4
| Facility | City | State | ZIP | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office | Birmingham | Alabama | 35203 | Recruiting |
| San Diego County Medical Examiner Office | San Diego | California | 92123 | Recruiting |
| Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner | Farmington | Connecticut | 06032 | Recruiting |
| Peer Support Community Partners | Watertown | Massachusetts | 02472 | Active, not recruiting |
Site contact phone numbers, emails, and investigator names are intentionally not displayed here. Open the official ClinicalTrials.gov record for site contact information.
About this trial record page
- What this page shows
- Public field values for ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT06854757, including study identification, conditions, interventions, eligibility (age, sex, healthy volunteer), timeline, and U.S. site list.
- What this page does not do
- No medical advice, eligibility judgments, treatment recommendations, study quality scoring, or AI-generated medical summaries. No site contact phone numbers, emails, or investigator names.
- Where the data comes from
- Sourced from the official ClinicalTrials.gov public API. The official record is the source of truth.
- Last refresh
- Last update posted Aug 20, 2025 · Synced Sep 7, 2026
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Open the official record
The complete protocol, eligibility criteria, and contact information for NCT06854757 live on ClinicalTrials.gov.