Thinking ahead may curb cocaine cravings, study suggests
NCT ID NCT05507814
First seen Dec 18, 2025 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 27 times
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.
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States
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.
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.