Dr. Katie McCormick, a postdoctoral fellow at the Addiction Research Institute, received a notice of award for a K01 Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The award’s long-term goal, as listed by the NIH, is “to improve the retention and effectiveness of the peer workforce by reducing occupational burnout and substance use relapse.” The study notes that peer workers are essential frontline workers addressing the opioid epidemic, yet their effectiveness is impeded by high rates of occupational burnout and relapse. Research indicates that approximately 70% of peer workers report elevated levels of burnout, and up to 40% of addiction professionals in recovery have relapsed. Additionally, evidence shows that the United States is experiencing a substance use workforce crisis due to staff shortages and high turnover rates.
“This award is an incredible opportunity to build an independent program of research focused on supporting substance use peer workers — an essential workforce responding to the opioid crisis,” said McCormick. “With the support of this grant, my work will adapt and test an evidence-based mindfulness relapse prevention intervention to better support peer workers’ recovery, well-being, and retention in the field. I am excited to use this opportunity to build research that has a meaningful impact, and I am deeply grateful to my mentors, collaborators, and community partners whose guidance and partnership have made this possible.”