Thinking ahead may curb cocaine cravings, study suggests
NCT ID NCT05507814
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a mental exercise called Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) could change how people with cocaine use disorder make decisions and reduce their cocaine use. 141 participants were asked to vividly imagine positive future events or control events. Researchers measured changes in decision-making, cravings, and brain activity. The goal was to understand if this simple technique could help people think more about long-term rewards over immediate drug use.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) - a behavioral exercise where participants imagine positive future events
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple mental exercise to help people with cocaine use disorder make better decisions and reduce cravings.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study testing a theory, not a proven treatment. The intervention is brief and may not lead to lasting changes in real-world cocaine use.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States
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