Substance abuse

This study tests whether starting antiretroviral therapy within 7 days of an HIV diagnosis can reduce stigma and improve health outcomes for people who inject drugs. Researchers will develop a rapid-start strategy and pilot it with 135 participants at HIV clinics. The goal is to …

This study tests whether an 8-week culturally responsive harm reduction program helps Black and Latinx people who use drugs engage more with services and reduce opioid or stimulant use. Researchers will compare the program to standard harm reduction services in 200 participants. …

This study tests whether a virtual session with a peer recovery coach can help incarcerated adults with substance use disorders connect to addiction treatment and recovery resources. About 550 participants in jail will either get the coaching or just standard information. Researc…

This study tests a computerized task where teens push or pull a joystick in response to images, aiming to change automatic habits around cannabis and alcohol. Fifty-two participants aged 13-17 who use both substances will be followed for three months. The goal is to see if this s…

This trial tests whether an 8-week virtual mindfulness program can help substance use peer workers reduce their own relapse risk and burnout. Peer workers—people in recovery who support others with substance use issues—often face high stress. The study compares the mindfulness pr…

This study tests a program called Returning to the Land, designed for young Native American caregivers (ages 14-19) who have a child aged 1-5. The program uses time in a biodiverse outdoor setting to address caregiver substance use and support children's emotional and behavioral …

This study examines whether adding structured high-intensity physical exercise to a 3-month residential treatment program for substance use disorder improves patients' physical health, mental health, and quality of life. Researchers measure changes in oxygen uptake, leg strength,…

This study tests a mutual-help group called the TLC Program for transgender adults who struggle with substance use or are recently in recovery. The program uses mindfulness and values-based skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to improve mental health and reduce HIV risk…

This study tests a program called Fathers for Change (F4C) for 280 fathers who struggle with substance misuse and have been violent toward family. The program aims to help them control emotions, stop substance use, and prevent violence. Researchers compare F4C to standard drug co…

This study tests a program called PrTNER that helps young people aged 15-29 who are at risk for HIV or already living with it, and who also have substance use issues. The program provides prevention, treatment, and support to help them start HIV prevention medication (PrEP) or lo…

This study tests a program called Hastiin Bidziil (Strong Man) to help Native American men ages 18 and older reduce their use of alcohol and drugs. About 160 men from Arizona communities will take part. The program focuses on cultural strengths and community support to lower subs…

This study tests a program led by trained peers (other women with HIV) that combines acceptance and commitment therapy, exercise, and social support. The goal is to help 300 women in four counties stick to their HIV medication and manage substance use and trauma. Researchers will…

This study is testing whether a type of brain stimulation called theta burst stimulation (TBS) can reduce heavy drinking and cravings in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers will apply magnetic pulses to a brain region linked to drinking patterns, comparing real stimulat…

This study looks at whether taking part in a traditional Ojibwe ceremony called Gii'igoshimong can help American Indian adults cut down on substance use and improve their mental health. About 300 adults who identify as Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Chippewa and have used substances in the p…

This study looks at whether giving a high-dose prescription stimulant (lisdexamfetamine) for 25 weeks is feasible and acceptable for people with moderate to severe methamphetamine use disorder. About 80 participants will receive either the drug or a placebo alongside their usual …

This study looks at whether adding addiction counseling and a community peer helper to regular primary care helps people with opioid use disorder stay on their medication (buprenorphine) and keep coming to their doctor visits. About 70 adults with opioid dependence and other medi…

This study tests whether giving financial incentives for negative drug tests can help people with opioid, cocaine, or methamphetamine use disorder stay abstinent. Six hundred participants use a smartphone app to submit saliva tests. Some receive escalating or de-escalating reward…

This study tests whether adding a high-dose stimulant medication and/or a reward-based program (contingency management) to standard care helps people reduce how often they use methamphetamine. About 440 adults with moderate to severe methamphetamine use disorder will be randomly …

This study tests whether trained peer recovery specialists can help Black individuals with substance use stick to their long-acting injectable HIV treatment or prevention. 186 participants will either get this peer support or standard care. The goal is to see if the peer program …

This trial tests a peer-led program called PEGISUS to reduce substance use and promote fair gender beliefs among 264 young people (ages 16-24) in vocational training in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Participants in peer groups will attend eight sessions, while a control gro…

This study is testing whether a mobile app called Pink Cloud can help people recovering from drug or alcohol problems stay sober. Over 1,400 adults who have completed treatment will use the app for a year, which includes a meeting finder, sobriety tracker, and planning tools. Res…

Researchers are testing whether a three-session couples motivational interviewing program helps male couples reduce illicit drug use and behaviors that raise HIV transmission risk. The trial enrolls 360 male couples where at least one partner is HIV negative and at least one has …

This study tests whether an online parenting program, eHealth Familias Unidas, can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior in Hispanic adolescents aged 12 to 16. The program involves 13 online sessions that aim to strengthen family communication and protecti…

This study tests a program called PREVENTURE for teenagers aged 14 to 17 who are at risk for alcohol and drug addiction. Participants are randomly assigned to either the program plus usual care or usual care alone. The goal is to see if the program reduces binge drinking and othe…

This study tests whether a program called Bright Horizons can help prevent binge drinking and drug use in Native American youth aged 10 to 24. The program teaches skills like managing emotions, coping with stress, and setting goals. Researchers will compare it to standard case ma…

This study tests an online parenting program called Family Check-Up Online, adapted for Latinx families, to help prevent substance use in youth aged 11-14. Researchers will enroll 108 Latinx families and compare a culturally adapted version, a Spanish-only version, and a waitlist…

This study aims to create and test a prevention program for e-cigarette use among 6th-8th graders in rural Hawaii. The program includes classroom lessons, social media content, and a print campaign, all designed with Hawaiian culture in mind. Researchers will work with 500 studen…

This study tests a parenting program designed to help Hispanic teens who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The goal is to see if the program can prevent or reduce drug use and symptoms of depression by improving family support and reducing stress. About 306 teens and their parents w…

This study tests a 9-month program called NE+ for American Indian youth aged 12-18. The program includes educational modules and cultural teachings to encourage abstinence, condom use, and avoid substance use. It also involves parents and school staff. The goal is to see if the p…

This study tests whether adding a trained family advocate to a proven parenting program can help prevent substance use and reduce childhood trauma. About 360 families from 36 high-risk communities in New Jersey will take part. The goal is to see if extra support makes the program…

This study tests a web-based program called T.E.C.H. Parenting that teaches parents of middle-schoolers how to talk about media and set rules around it. The goal is to reduce kids' exposure to substance use in movies, shows, and online content, which may lower their risk of tryin…

This study tests a program called Family Spirit Strengths (FSS) designed to help American Indian and Alaska Native mothers and caregivers cope with stress, build skills, and connect with their culture. About 188 participants will either receive FSS or a nutrition education progra…

This study tests a six-session program called SER Familia for Latino immigrant families with a parent and a child aged 12-17. The program, led by community health workers, aims to reduce stress from adapting to a new culture and build resilience. The goal is to prevent substance …

This study tests a support service designed specifically for transgender women, men, and non-binary people in Thailand who have used chemsex drugs or other substances in the past year. The program offers HIV prevention (PrEP), mental health support, and STI care. Researchers will…

This study tests an after-school program called Native Spirit for Indigenous teens in grades 7-12. The program uses cultural activities to strengthen identity, self-esteem, and resilience, with the goal of preventing substance use. About 60 teens from two Arizona tribes will take…

This study aims to see if training people who inject drugs to become peer educators can help their friends get tested for HIV and use prevention tools like PrEP and treatment for opioid use. About 360 participants from syringe service programs in Maryland will be recruited, along…

This study tested a school-based program called Proud & Empowered, designed to help LGBTQ students cope with minority stress and improve mental health. About 228 high school students took part. The program was led by school counselors and social workers. The study was terminated …

This trial tests a virtual program called iPAWS for adolescents and young adults having their wisdom teeth removed. The program teaches safe, effective ways to handle post-surgical pain and aims to reduce cannabis and other substance use. Researchers are enrolling 150 participant…

This study tests a hybrid dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program for veterans with PTSD who have already completed inpatient treatment. The goal is to reduce lingering symptoms and prevent relapse. About 24 veterans will take part, combining in-person skill groups with online…

This study tests a 6-month holistic behavioral health program called EASE for 200 adults with HIV or seeking HIV prevention who also use alcohol or drugs. Participants receive counseling, case management, peer support, and education. Researchers will measure changes in depression…

This early-stage study at Yale is testing whether a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin is safe and tolerable for people whose daily life is impaired by mood, anxiety, trauma, or addiction symptoms. Fifty participants will receive the drug openly (everyone knows they get it) and be f…

This study tests an online, 9-week program designed to help parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth of color become more supportive and accepting. Researchers will enroll 180 youth (ages 14-25) and their caregivers to see if the program reduces depression, anxiety, drug use, and o…

This study tests whether extra support for case managers helps veterans leaving the military better manage pain and reduce risky substance use. About 1800 veterans will take part. The program focuses on non-drug pain treatments and counseling.

This study is developing new MRI techniques to better understand how drug addiction changes the brain. Researchers will scan 1,000 healthy adults, smokers, and drug users to improve imaging methods. The goal is to create tools that can reveal the brain's structure and function in…

This study looks at how people with opioid-use disorder learn and make choices compared to those without the disorder. Participants will complete a computer task where shapes are paired with different food odors. The goal is to understand if differences in learning and decision-m…

This study will give 22 occasional cannabis users oral THC, CBD, both, or a placebo to measure how these substances appear in blood and saliva, and how they affect thinking and behavior. The goal is to better understand drug detection and impairment from oral cannabinoids. It is …

This study tests a 10-week parenting program called Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W), designed specifically for urban American Indian families. Researchers will compare it to a general health program in four U.S. cities with 1,440 parent-teen pairs. The goal is to see if P2W improves …

This study explores whether a short substance use questionnaire and brief counseling session can be easily added to regular check-ups for adult survivors of childhood cancer. About 30 participants will fill out a screening tool and, if needed, receive supportive counseling during…

This study tests a device that has not been approved by the U.S. FDA. The purpose is to collect information on how the device works and its safety. Participants will help researchers understand if the device could be useful in the future.

This study works with Black teens on probation and their families to adapt alcohol and drug treatment to better address experiences of racial discrimination. Researchers will interview teens and hold focus groups with parents and community advocates to learn what works. The goal …

This study looks at whether brain activity related to learning can predict how well teens respond to a program aimed at reducing cannabis use. Teens aged 14-17 get a brain scan, then attend 10 weekly virtual sessions where they report use and take drug tests. They can earn prizes…

This study is developing and testing a 12-week group education program called FEELS to help Black young adults (ages 18-35) who have experienced trauma better understand mental health and substance use. Participants will attend weekly sessions and complete surveys to see if their…

This study looks at how differences in personality, brain activity, and behavior may make some young adults more likely to use substances like cannabis. Researchers will track eye movements and brain scans in 294 people aged 18-22. No treatment or medication is involved—the goal …

This study is testing a program called Project REACH, which offers telehealth services at syringe service programs (places where people can get clean needles). The goal is to see if this makes it easier for people who use drugs to get HIV prevention (like PrEP) and addiction trea…

This study compares two support programs for Black men who have been in jail or prison and are at risk for or living with HIV. One group gets health navigation only; the other also gets employment help and up to $340 in incentives. Researchers want to see which approach better co…

This study tests whether adding a tool called the Pleasuremeter to standard harm reduction services helps men who have sex with men and transgender people who use drugs or engage in chemsex talk about and improve their sexual pleasure. The goal is to see if people are willing to …

This study interviews 50 transgender adults in Thailand about their chemsex behaviors—reasons, patterns, and impacts—along with stigma and HIV prevention needs. Researchers also gather input from stakeholders to identify barriers and facilitators for creating transgender-friendly…

This study is gathering information from men who have sex with men who take part in chemsex (using drugs before or during sex) in Bangkok, Thailand. Researchers will survey party hosts and guests about their drug use, sexual health, mental health, and experiences of stigma. The g…

This study looks at whether special programs for fathers can help families in the Bronx and nearby areas who are at risk for substance misuse. About 240 fathers will be randomly assigned to either get usual services or extra support like counseling, fatherhood classes, and case m…

This study compares two approaches to screening and counseling teens about alcohol and drug use during primary care visits. One approach involves only the teen, while the other includes the whole family. Researchers will follow 2,300 teens and their caregivers for one year to see…

This study aims to help Oregon decision-makers—like health officials, community leaders, and policymakers—use up-to-date, easy-to-understand data to improve substance use services and prevent overdoses. About 341 adults who have authority over substance use policies or programs w…

This study looks at why people with bipolar disorder may think about or attempt suicide, focusing on life experiences and biology. Researchers will test a 6-week group program to help reduce these behaviors and improve quality of life. About 130 English-speaking adults with bipol…

This study looks at how age and sex influence the effects of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Researchers will give smoked and oral THC to 103 adults aged 18-65 who use cannabis regularly. They will measure pain relief, intoxication, impairment, and how the body…

This study looks at how CBD (a non-psychoactive cannabis compound) changes the effects of THC (the compound that makes you high). Researchers will give both substances to 30 regular cannabis users who are not seeking treatment. They want to see if CBD can reduce the abuse potenti…

This study tests a 4-session drug education program called iDECIDE for middle and high school students who recently violated their school's substance use policy. About 300 students will be randomly assigned to either take the program right away or wait. Researchers will measure c…

This study looks at whether giving out special syringes with less leftover space (low dead-space) can help reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis among people who inject drugs. Researchers will talk with participants and track their health in several countries. The goal is to fin…