Screening for Substance Abuse

Overseen By Jessica Vincent, BS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Court-mandated, Moving, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

7500 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to create a streamlined process to match individuals with substance abuse issues to the most suitable clinical trial or study. It focuses on developing a unified consent and evaluation system for those seeking help, especially for cocaine, opiates, or alcohol issues. The trial suits individuals who are generally healthy, at least 18 years old, and willing to commit to a 3- to 6-month treatment program in the Houston area. This study does not accept individuals required by law to undergo treatment or those planning to relocate soon.

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could improve future treatment matching processes.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators.

What prior data suggests that this screening method is safe for substance abuse evaluation?

Research has shown that treatments for cocaine use disorder have been tested for safety in people. In these studies, patients have generally tolerated the treatments well. Some side effects have been reported, but they are usually mild.

For example, when exploring different methods like behavioral therapies and medication, researchers found that participants often improved without serious side effects. These findings suggest that treatments for cocaine dependency are safe for most people.

The stage of a clinical trial can also indicate safety. If a treatment is in the later stages of trials, more evidence supports its safety and effectiveness. Always consult a healthcare provider if there are concerns about joining a trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Substance Abuse Pre-Treatment Screening Study because it aims to enhance the way cocaine dependency is identified and addressed before treatment even begins. Unlike current methods that primarily focus on direct treatment of the addiction through behavioral therapy or medications, this study explores pre-treatment screening as a method to tailor interventions more effectively. By identifying specific needs and characteristics of cocaine-dependent individuals early on, this approach could lead to more personalized and successful treatment outcomes, potentially transforming how addiction recovery programs are structured.

What evidence suggests that this screening study is effective for substance abuse?

Research has shown that treatments for cocaine addiction can improve outcomes for many individuals. A national study revealed that cocaine was the primary drug problem for about 36% of participants in a large treatment group, underscoring the prevalence of this issue. This trial will focus on cocaine-dependent subjects as part of the Substance Abuse Pre-Treatment Screening Study. Studies have found that short-term coping skills treatments can reduce cocaine use as early as three months after initiation. Additionally, researchers have identified factors that predict success, enhancing treatment effectiveness. Overall, evidence suggests that structured treatment approaches can significantly aid those struggling with cocaine addiction. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Joy M. Schmitz, PhD

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Frederick G Moeller, MD

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Angela L Stotts, PhD

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Willing and able to participate in 3- to 6-month treatment program.

Seeking treatment for substances of abuse including (cocaine, opiates, and alcohol).

Generally physically healthy.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Evaluation

A complete medical, social, psychiatric, and drug use history is obtained and evaluated

2 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Substance Abuse Pre-Treatment Screening Study

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: A Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Cocaine Dependent Subjects

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00439049?cond=%22Cocaine%20Abuse%22&intr=%22narcotics%22&viewType=Table&rank=8

Substance Abuse Pre-Treatment Screening Study A complete medical, social, psychiatric, and drug use history will be obtained. Subjects fulfilling general health inclusion requirements will then be offered ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2932666/

Self-Efficacy for Cocaine Abstinence: Pretreatment Correlates ... Treatments for Drug Abuse and Dependence. Rockville, MD: National ... Brief coping skills treatment for cocaine abuse: Substance use outcomes at 3 months.

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1673778

A National Evaluation of Treatment Outcomes for Cocaine ... Cocaine use (either in smoked or injected form) also was the primary drug problem reported by 36.0% of the 593,847 patients admitted for drug treatment across ...

4. systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-024-02550-z

Predictors of cocaine use disorder treatment outcomes ... outcome and retention in the National Institute on Drug Abuse Collaborative Cocaine Treatment Study. ... test predict levels of cocaine use ...

5. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ps.49.6.782

A Randomized Controlled Study of the Effectiveness ... ... cocaine use disorder in two traditional outpatient treatment modalities and ... Efficacy of outpatient intensive treatment for drug abuse. Journal of ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6795516/

The treatment of cocaine use disorder - PMC - NIH ... research in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. ... treatment for cocaine abuse: Substance use outcomes at three months.

7. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2779686

Comparison of Treatments for Cocaine Use Disorder ... ... Addiction Severity Index drug composite ... Brief coping skills treatment for cocaine abuse: substance use outcomes at three months.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740547214000403

Contingency management for cocaine treatment: Cash vs. ... This view has been suggested by a number of researchers who have argued that offering cash incentives to drug abuse clients might trigger a relapse to drug use ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11180556/

Examining Cocaine Use Reductions and Long-Term ... - PMC The ASI is a well-established, semi-structured interview measuring problem severity across seven subscales: medical, employment, alcohol use, drug use, legal, ...