A new study from UTHealth Houston finds that the community-based opioid treatment program, Honor’s HEROES, can substantially improve treatment retention and quality of life for people with opioid use disorder, even among individuals facing significant barriers such as homelessness, lack of insurance, and prior overdose. The findings were published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
The research evaluated outcomes for 1,124 adults enrolled in Honor’s HEROES over five years. The program, which provides medication treatment, counseling, peer support, and group services through a flexible, patient-centered model, achieved a 74.1% retention rate at 90 days—a key benchmark for long-term recovery success. Participants engaging in multiple services stayed in treatment the longest, averaging 128 days during the study’s 180-day observation window.
“Retention in treatment is one of the strongest predictors of recovery in opioid use disorder,” said James Langabeer, PhD, EdD, MBA, founder of Honor’s HEROES and executive director of the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research at UTHealth Houston. “Our findings show that integrated, community-based programs meaningfully boost patient engagement and lead to measurable improvements in quality of life.”
The study also found that participants reported significant improvements in health and well-being, with quality-of-life scores increasing by an average of 13.2 points, and nearly 71% reporting feeling better after enrolling. Low rates of overdose and death were observed, underscoring the benefits of continuous engagement in community-based care.
“People with opioid use disorder face enormous barriers to care, but this study shows that flexible, community-based treatment can keep people engaged and improve their quality of life,” said Andrea Yatsco, PhD, co-author and director of operations at Honor’s HEROES.
The findings highlight a growing national shift toward recovery-oriented systems of care that emphasize flexibility, patient choice, and integration of medical, behavioral, and peer support services.
“Our five-year study shows that recovery is real and within reach,” Langabeer added. “Through comprehensive outpatient treatment at Honor’s HEROES, lives are saved, stability is regained, and families are reunited through compassionate, evidence-based care.”
Other UTHealth Houston authors on the study include Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer, PhD, RDN; Sarah Cohen, MS; and Shabana Walia, MD, MPH.
