OPIOID USE

This study looked at whether adding mental health services and a clinical pharmacist to primary care could help people with chronic pain, anxiety, or depression use opioids more safely. About 490 adults who were already taking opioids for long-term pain took part. The program aim…

This study tested whether a mobile health unit could help people who inject drugs get treatment for opioid use disorder and HIV prevention or treatment all in one place. 447 adults with opioid use disorder joined the study. The goal was to see if this approach increased the use o…

This study tested whether a personalized medication plan, created by a pharmacy intern, could help people with non-cancer pain stop taking strong opioids sooner. The goal was to keep treatment under 28 days to reduce the risk of addiction. The study involved 100 adults hospitaliz…

This study looked at whether giving adults with chronic pain discounted vouchers for medical cannabis could help them reduce their use of opioid painkillers. About 270 people who already had medical cannabis certification took part. The goal was to see if offering cheaper cannabi…

This study tested a new set of questions called PainTracker to help doctors guide older adults (65+) who are on long-term opioid therapy toward safer care. The goal was to increase referrals to non-opioid treatments like physical therapy or mental health support, and to reduce ri…

This early-phase study tested whether adding a medication called AUVELITY (a mix of dextromethorphan and bupropion) to standard buprenorphine/naloxone treatment is safe for people with opioid use disorder. 18 adults on stable buprenorphine treatment took part. Researchers monitor…

This study looked at whether medical cannabis can help people with chronic pain cut down on opioid medications. 29 patients who wanted to reduce their opioid use but couldn't afford medical cannabis were given access to it. Over five months, doctors tracked their pain levels and …

This early-phase trial tested a virtual reality (VR) intervention designed to help people in early recovery from opioid use disorder think more about their future and reduce drug use. 104 participants who had been abstinent for at least 14 days but less than a year were split int…

This study tested whether a trained peer recovery specialist could help low-income, minority individuals stick with their medication for opioid use disorder. 200 people in Baltimore took part, comparing the peer-led program to standard care over six months. The goal was to see if…

This study tested a program to help adults who take prescribed opioid medications and also drink alcohol reduce their use of both. Researchers worked with 112 people from community pharmacies to see if the program was acceptable and effective. The goal is to prevent harm from mix…

This study tested whether getting young people actively involved in designing and running prevention programs helps reduce drug and opioid misuse. Four community organizations in North Carolina took part; two used a youth engagement approach and two did not. Researchers surveyed …

This study tested a program called TACUNA plus a Wellness Circle to prevent opioid misuse among American Indian/Alaska Native young adults aged 18-25 in California. Participants were randomly assigned to either the culturally centered program or an opioid education workshop. The …

This study tested new ways to prevent opioid misuse and addiction in teens and young adults (ages 16-30) who came to the emergency department. Participants who used opioids and had other risk factors received support starting in the ER and continuing through telehealth after they…

This study tested a program called Trust-based Relational Intervention (TBRI) to prevent opioid and other drug misuse in teens aged 15-18 who were leaving juvenile justice facilities. Researchers worked with 250 youth and a trusted adult in their life to see if the program could …

This study tested whether a nerve block (injection near the cheekbone) can reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers in children after tonsil and adenoid removal. 114 children aged 6 months to 18 years took part. The approach aims to make recovery safer and more comfortable…

This study tested a one-day educational workshop for adults with chronic non-cancer pain who take high doses of opioids. The workshop, led by a team of doctors, pharmacists, and psychologists, taught about opioid risks and a pain management technique called Acceptance and Commitm…

This study tested whether the medication acetazolamide can improve sleep-disordered breathing (sleep apnea) in adults with chronic pain who use opioids daily. 39 participants took either acetazolamide or a placebo for one week. The goal was to see if the drug could reduce breathi…

This study looked at whether yoga can help people with chronic pain who are also receiving medication for opioid use. Researchers tested different ways to encourage participants to do more yoga, both in class and at home. The goal was to find the best combination of support metho…

This study tested different anesthesia methods to improve pain control after outpatient surgery while reducing the need for opioid painkillers. Over 900 adults having same-day or short-stay surgery took part. The goal was to lower opioid use, side effects, and the risk of addicti…

This study looked at whether listening to music could help heart surgery patients need less strong pain medicine. 54 adults who had heart surgery through a cut in the chest took part. The main goal was to see if music therapy lowered the amount of opioid painkillers they used.

This study tested whether helping lonely adults on long-term opioids feel more connected could reduce their risk of misusing those medications. Researchers provided psychological therapy and social navigation support to 102 primary care patients. The goal was to see if these lone…

This study tested whether giving lidocaine through a vein during liver surgery can reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers afterward. 124 adults having minor liver surgery were randomly assigned to receive either lidocaine or a placebo (salt water). The main goal was to s…

This study tested whether adding acupuncture to a standard recovery plan helps people who have hip replacement surgery use fewer opioids and recover faster. 484 adults took part. Researchers placed tiny needles in the ear during surgery to see if it lowers pain and opioid use aft…

This study tested whether a mix of non-opioid pain medicines (multimodal anesthesia) helps patients recover better after major surgery compared to using only opioids. 240 adults having long surgeries took part. The goal was to see if the multimodal approach improves patient satis…

This pilot study tested whether a mindfulness program is acceptable and helpful for veterans with chronic pain who are also at risk for suicide. 76 veterans took part. The goal was to see if the program could reduce pain-related disability and suicide risk. Results will show if t…

This study tested two methods to control pain after gallbladder removal: a nerve block (external oblique intercostal block) versus injecting pain medicine into the surgical cuts (port-site infiltration). Sixty adults took part to see which approach lowered pain and the need for s…

This study looked at 46 adults having spinal surgery to see if giving a nerve block (ESP block) before or after surgery makes a difference in pain and recovery. The goal was to find out which timing reduces the need for strong painkillers and helps patients feel better sooner. Re…

This study looked at whether giving testosterone to women over 60 with chronic back pain, low testosterone, and long-term opioid use could improve their pain and quality of life. 36 women received either testosterone or a placebo. The goal was to see if testosterone helps with pa…

This study tested whether dronabinol, a drug similar to cannabis, can help reduce the need for opioid painkillers after knee replacement surgery. 114 adults were randomly assigned to receive either dronabinol or a placebo before and after surgery. Researchers measured opioid use,…

This study looked at whether adding a low-dose ketamine drip to standard pain medicine helps people who just had knee replacement surgery. One hundred adults were split into two groups: one got usual pain care, the other got usual care plus ketamine through a pump they could cont…

This study looked at a voluntary program to help adults with chronic pain slowly reduce their opioid medications. 51 people who wanted to lower their dose worked with their doctor over 4 months using a personalized tapering plan and a self-help book. The main goal was to see if t…

This study looked at whether slowly reducing (tapering) prescribed opioids helps people with long-term non-cancer pain. 140 participants were split into two groups: one started tapering right away, the other waited 4 months. The goal was to see if tapering could lower opioid use …

This study looked at 56 adults who had major abdominal surgery to compare two pain relief methods: a spinal injection of morphine and a newer nerve block technique. The goal was to see which method better controls pain and reduces the need for additional opioids. Results will hel…

This study tested a mobile app (STAMP+CBT) designed to help people with advanced cancer track their pain, mood, and opioid use while receiving personalized tips and support. Fifty-two patients used the app for 4 weeks to see if it was easy to use and helpful. The goal was to impr…

This study tested whether a numbing injection near the chest wall (serratus anterior plane block) can improve pain, breathing, and coughing in emergency room patients with broken ribs. Forty adults with rib fractures received either the injection or standard care. Researchers mea…

This study tested whether adding a specific nerve block to standard pain management could help people who had knee replacement surgery. 244 adults were randomly assigned to receive the extra nerve block or not. Researchers measured pain scores and how much opioid pain medication …

This study tested whether giving a single dose of pregabalin (a nerve pain medication) about an hour before kidney stone surgery could reduce pain and the need for opioid painkillers afterward. 118 adults having ureteroscopy with a ureteral stent were randomly assigned to receive…

This small pilot study tested whether oral cannabinoids (medical cannabis) can help people with chronic pain. Researchers enrolled 51 adults and measured how easy it was to run the study, including recruitment and adherence. The goal was to gather data to design a larger, more de…

This study tested whether a special nerve block (RIB block) could reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a common weight-loss surgery. Fifty-six adults with severe obesity were randomly assigned to receive either the nerve block plu…

This study looked at whether adding medical marijuana to a 24-week support program helps adults with long-term pain reduce their opioid painkiller dose and improve pain. 87 people on high-dose opioids took part. The goal was to see if marijuana could make it easier to lower opioi…

This study tested a brief, computer-based program that gives personalized feedback to adults with chronic pain who drink heavily and take prescription opioids. The goal was to see if the program could increase knowledge about the risks of mixing alcohol and opioids, boost motivat…

This study looked at how three common opioids (morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl) affect feelings like anxiety, relaxation, and pain right before surgery. It also tracked how much opioid painkillers people used after surgery and what factors predicted long-term use or ongoing pai…

This study looked at how opioids and sedatives affect the body when taken together. Eleven healthy adults who use these drugs non-medically took part. Researchers measured drug liking and other effects to understand how these medications interact.

This study tested a computer tool designed to help doctors and patients make shared decisions about chronic pain treatment. 39 adults with long-term muscle or bone pain who had recently used opioids took part. The goal was to see if clinics would use the tool and if it improved c…

This study tested a short video shown during a sexual assault medical exam, followed by text messages over the next month. The goal was to see if this approach could help prevent PTSD and opioid misuse. 50 adult survivors took part. The study was completed and measured changes in…

This study tested two ways to encourage COVID-19 testing among people who use opioids: having friends refer friends (chain referral) and using trusted community messengers. About 500 adults who had used opioids in the past 6 months took part. The goal was to see which method got …

This study looked at how alcohol and opioids (like prescription painkillers) affect people when taken together. Eleven healthy adults who use both substances but are not dependent on them took part. Researchers measured how much participants liked the drug combination and how dru…

This completed study looked at how women who inject drugs feel about a long-acting injectable HIV prevention medication called CAB-LA. Researchers wanted to learn what helps or hinders their decision to use it, and how it compares to daily pills. The goal is to design better prog…

This study looked at whether gradually reducing opioid medications over a long period affects pain, quality of life, and mood in people with chronic non-cancer pain. Eighteen adults on stable opioid doses participated. The goal was to see if tapering causes worsening symptoms com…

This study tested a harm reduction education program designed specifically for Black adults who misuse opioids or stimulants. Researchers wanted to see if the program increased knowledge about overdoses and made people more confident and willing to use or teach life-saving techni…

This study looked at whether adding mindfulness training to physical therapy is a practical way to help people with long-term muscle and joint pain who also take opioids. Researchers trained physical therapists in mindfulness and then checked how well they could teach these skill…

This study looked at whether giving patients educational materials about opioids before shoulder replacement surgery, along with a safe way to dispose of unused pills, would reduce the number of leftover opioid pills. 140 adults having shoulder replacement took part. The goal was…

This study looked at how marijuana and the opioid oxycodone influence each other when people choose to use them. Eight healthy adults who had experience with both drugs lived in a research unit for about 6.5 weeks. They could earn doses of each drug, and researchers measured how …