Can we help people safely stop opioid addiction meds? major study tests new strategies
NCT ID NCT04464980
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 02, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study tests different medication and counseling combinations to improve how long people stay in treatment for opioid use disorder and whether they can safely stop medication without relapsing. Over 1,500 participants choose either buprenorphine or naltrexone and are randomly assigned to different doses or counseling approaches. The goal is to find the best ways to keep people in treatment and identify who can safely discontinue medication.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- buprenorphine and naltrexone (medications for opioid use disorder)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could identify the best strategies to help people stay in treatment longer and safely stop medication without relapsing.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2 study, so results are still early. The approaches tested may not work for everyone, and some participants may relapse during or after tapering off medication.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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1,516 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2021
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria for Retention Phase: 1. 18 years of age or older; 2. Meet DSM-5 criteria for current opioid use disorder (heroin, fentanyl or other synthetic opioids, and/or prescription opioids); 3. Seeking treatment for opioid use disorder and choosing either buprenorphine (BUP) or extended-release injection naltrexone (XR-NTX); 4. If choosing buprenorphine, willing to be randomized to SL-BUP-16mg, SL-BUP-32mg, or XR-BUP; 5. Willing to be randomized to either MM (standard Medical Management plus counseling treatment as usual available at the site) or MMR (MM plus usual counseling and access to an app delivering CM + CBT); 6. In good-enough general health (meaning good enough health to be in outpatient treatment) as determined by the study medical clinician on the basis of medical history, review of systems, and physical/mental status exam, to permit treatment with XR-NTX or BUP; 7. Willing and able to provide written informed consent; 8. Able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures; 9. If female of childbearing potential, willing to practice an effective method of birth control for the duration of participation in the study (participants who become pregnant during the study will continue to be followed; treatment may be modified consistent with pregnancy). Exclusion Criteria for Retention Phase: 1. Serious medical, psychiatric, or co-occurring substance use disorder or concomitant medication that, in the opinion of the study medical clinician, makes the patient not appropriate for outpatient treatment with buprenorphine or XR-NTX, but instead requires a higher or different level of care. Examples include: 1. Disabling or terminal medical illness (e.g., uncompensated heart failure, cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease) as assessed by medical history, review of systems, physical exam and/or laboratory assessments; 2. Severe, untreated or inadequately treated psychiatric condition (e.g., active psychosis, uncontrolled bipolar disorder) as assessed by history and/or clinical interview, requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization); 3. Current severe alcohol, benzodiazepine, or other depressant or sedative hypnotic use, requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization); 2. Suicidal or homicidal ideation or behavior requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization); 3. Known allergy or sensitivity to preferred medication or its components; 4. Maintenance on methadone at the time of signing consent; 5. For those preferring XR-NTX, presence of pain of sufficient severity as to require ongoing pain management with opioids; 6. For those preferring XR-NTX, body habitus that, in the judgment of the study physician, precludes safe intramuscular injection of XR-NTX (e.g., BMI\>40, excess fat tissue over the buttocks, emaciation); 7. If female, currently pregnant or breastfeeding or planning on conception; 8. Are currently in jail, prison or other overnight facility as required by court of law or have pending legal action that could prevent participation in study activities; 9. Have used the reSET-O or CHESS Connections mHealth apps in the 3 months prior to consent; 10. Other major reasons that might prevent an individual from participating in the study (e.g., a planned move out of the area). Inclusion Criteria for Discontinuation Phase: 1. 18 years of age or older; 2. Have been receiving buprenorphine for OUD for at least the past year or XR-NTX pharmacotherapy for OUD for at least the past 6 months prior to consent for the Discontinuation Phase; 3. Express the desire to discontinue MOUD after a shared decision-making discussion with the treating provider; 4. Meet stability criteria, i.e., have abstained from opioids (other than buprenorphine), cocaine, methamphetamine, and non-prescribed benzodiazepines for the past ≥12 weeks, and do not meet DSM-5 criteria for current (≥12 weeks) alcohol use disorder (participants with cannabis use will be eligible); 5. If currently taking buprenorphine, are willing to take either SL-BUP or XR-BUP if randomized to that condition; 6. Willing to be randomized to either MM or to MMD; 7. Able to provide written informed consent after discussion with their provider regarding the risks of discontinuation; 8. Able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures; 9. If female of childbearing potential, willing to practice an effective method of birth control while in the study and taking study medication (participants who become pregnant during the study will continue to be followed; treatment may be modified consistent with pregnancy). Exclusion Criteria for Discontinuation Phase: 1. Serious medical or psychiatric disorder or concomitant medication that, in the opinion of the study medical clinician, would make study participation hazardous to the participant or compromise study findings or would prevent the participant from completing the study. Examples include: 1. Disabling or terminal medical illness (e.g., uncompensated heart failure, cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease) as assessed by medical history, review of systems, physical exam and/or laboratory assessments; 2. Severe, untreated, or inadequately treated psychiatric condition (e.g., active psychosis, uncontrolled bipolar disorder) as assessed by history and/or clinical interview, requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization); 2. Suicidal or homicidal ideation or behavior requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization); 3. For participants entering the study taking buprenorphine, presence of pain requiring or likely requiring ongoing pain management with buprenorphine or other opioids; 4. If female, currently pregnant or breastfeeding or planning on conception; 5. Use of opioids (other than buprenorphine), cocaine, methamphetamine, or non-prescribed benzodiazepines in the past 12 weeks; 6. Meets current DSM-5 criteria for any current alcohol use disorder; 7. Are currently in jail, prison or other overnight facility as required by court of law or have pending legal action that could prevent participation in study activities; 8. Have used the Connections mHealth app in the 3 months prior to consent (other than Connections in the Retention Phase); 9. Other major reasons that might prevent an individual from participating in the study (e.g., a planned move out of the area.
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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
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Adapt Integrated Health Care
Roseburg, Oregon, 97470, United States
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Adapt Integrated Health Care
Winston, Oregon, 97496, United States
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Aspire Health Partners
Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
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Bellevue Hospital Center
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Center for Psychiatric and Chemical Dependency Services (CPCDS)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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Chestnut Ridge Center
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505, United States
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Dartmouth Hitchcock - ATP
Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03766, United States
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Gateway Community Services
Jacksonville, Florida, 32204, United States
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Gibson Center for Behavioral Change
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 63703, United States
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Huntsman Mental Health Institute / University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States
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Internal Medicine Recovery Engagement Program (IM-REP)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219, United States
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Liberation Programs, Inc.
Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06610, United States
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McLean Hospital
Belmont, Massachusetts, 02478, United States
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Mountain Manor / Maryland Treatment Centers
Baltimore, Maryland, 21229, United States
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Operation PAR
Clearwater, Florida, 33760, United States
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Shoreline Behavioral Health Services
Conway, South Carolina, 29526, United States
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Square Medical Group, LLC
Newton, Massachusetts, 02458, United States
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Stanley Street Treatment and Resources, Inc.
Fall River, Massachusetts, 02720, United States
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Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc.
Tarzana, California, 91356, United States
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) / Center for Addiction Services and Treatment (CAST)
Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
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University of New Mexico Addiction and Substance Abuse Program
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87106, United States
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