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Examining the impact of the Humor and Addiction recovery (HA!) mHealth intervention on momentary outcomes during recovery from opioid use disorder.

Award Number: K01DA064818
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

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Examining the impact of the Humor and Addiction recovery (HA!) mHealth intervention on momentary outcomes during recovery from opioid use disorder. - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Finding enjoyment from daily experiences that do not involve drugs can be a powerful facilitator of opioid use disorder (OUD) recovery, but this can be challenging to foster in treatment. Humor-based interventions are effective for clinical populations such as people with depression: they enhance enjoyment and psychological flexibility. Although they offer promise for targeting key processes of recovery, humor-based interventions for OUD have yet to be developed. Dr. Stull conducted a qualitative study on humor in OUD recovery and found that people with OUD were enthusiastic about the importance of humor in recovery. He then received NIDA pilot funding (P30DA029926) to develop the Humor and Addiction recovery (HA!) app with mentor Marsch and co-mentor Jacobson. The pilot study included a mixed-method interview (n = 21) to gain feedback on features of the app: themes relating humor to recovery; stand-up clips and therapeutic takeaways; and our podcast, the Levity Lounge, hosted by comedian in recovery Andy Gold. Participants met for a follow-up visit to install the HA! app on their phones and test it for 6 days. Overall, participants gave high scores on humor appreciation (i.e., funniness) of stand-up clips and usability, and all participants “agreed” or “completely agreed” that the HA! intervention was acceptable. For this K01, we propose to expand the intervention content for the full, four-week HA! mobile app intervention (Aim 1), evaluate the HA! app, and to examine the effect of humor interventions (stand-up clips plus teachable moments) on proximal outcomes in adults in early recovery (< 6 months) receiving MOUD (n = 150) (Aims 2 and 3). Weekly intervention activities include an episode of The Levity Lounge; randomized twice-daily humor content; three ecological momentary assessments per day; and weekly ratings of acceptability, usability, engagement, and recovery outcomes (i.e., substance use, quality of life). The effect of humor on momentary outcomes will be examined through an innovative micro-randomized trial (MRT) wherein participants serve as their own control. This application addresses NIDA’s cross-cutting priority to develop personalized interventions informed by people with lived experience. Dr. Stull has lived experience of OUD and has an exceptional mentorship team that aligns precisely with his research aims and training goals. Dr. Marsch (primary mentor; Dartmouth) is a renowned expert in digital therapeutics for OUD (Training Goal 1); Dr. Murphy (Harvard) is a pioneer in MRTs and just-in-time adaptive interventions (Training Goal 2); Dr. Jacobson (Dartmouth) is an expert in designing and programming user-centered mobile interventions (Training Goal 3); and Dr. Ruch (Zurich) is an eminent scholar in positive psychology and humor interventions (Training Goal 4). This application will support Dr. Stull’s transition to an independent researcher developing novel interventions for OUD. Results will inform a randomized controlled trial (R01) of the HA! mobile app with a between-person control group, examining efficacy in distal recovery outcomes (substance use, quality of life).


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $178,168 )
2026	2026	TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE	7 LEBANON ST	HANOVER	NH	03755	GRAFTON	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	7/17/2026	NEW	$178,168
														Subtotal = $178,168

Grand Total All Awards = $178,168

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Examining the impact of the Humor and Addiction recovery (HA!) mHealth intervention on momentary outcomes during recovery from opioid use disorder.

Award Number: K01DA064818

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

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