60 Participants Needed

Opioid-Informed Alcohol Treatment for Alcoholism

(Project BEST Trial)

RC
BA
Overseen ByBeth A Arnold, M.S.
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Must be taking: Buprenorphine
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new approach for individuals taking buprenorphine for opioid use who also consume alcohol. The study aims to determine if a brief therapy, focused on motivation and behavior, can reduce alcohol use in these patients. This therapy is called "Brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment." Participants will either continue their usual care or try this new therapy for four weeks. It suits those who have been on buprenorphine for at least two weeks, drink alcohol weekly, and meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore a novel therapy that could enhance the treatment experience.

What prior data suggests that this brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment is safe?

Research has shown that therapies like Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are generally safe and well-tolerated. These methods help individuals change behavior by focusing on motivations and thought patterns. The brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment in this study uses these approaches.

Although specific safety data for this exact treatment is not available, using MET and CBT in similar contexts has shown no serious safety concerns. These therapies are often combined with medication to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders, which are known to be safe and effective. Combining therapy and medication can enhance treatment outcomes without adding significant risk.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment because it's tailored specifically for patients dealing with both alcohol and opioid use disorders. This treatment combines Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), providing a personalized approach that considers the unique challenges of individuals in opioid treatment. Unlike standard care, which often focuses solely on medication adherence and preventing opioid relapse, this therapy aims to address alcohol use directly, potentially offering a more holistic solution for patients with co-occurring substance use issues.

What evidence suggests that this brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment could be effective for alcoholism?

Research has shown that short, personalized programs for alcohol use can be effective, especially when combined with treatments for opioid addiction. In this trial, participants in the experimental arm will receive a brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment based on Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), tailored to the needs of patients in opioid treatment. Studies have found that these programs can help people drink less. Additionally, medications for opioid addiction, such as buprenorphine, which all participants in this trial will receive, can reduce the risk of alcohol-related health problems in individuals struggling with both opioid and alcohol use. This suggests that a brief alcohol treatment informed by opioid treatment could improve outcomes for those drinking alcohol while receiving opioid treatment. Overall, combining these approaches might help people reduce their alcohol use effectively.15678

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who are currently on prescribed buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder but also consume alcohol. It aims to help those who might be experiencing issues related to their alcohol consumption, including intimate partner violence linked to alcohol use.

Inclusion Criteria

Meet DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD)
Participants must report alcohol use ≥ 1 day/week on average in the past 28 days
Participants must be able to read simple English
See 2 more

Exclusion Criteria

Currently receiving formal alcohol use treatment

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a brief opioid-informed alcohol intervention based on MET and CBT, delivered once per week for 4 weeks

4 weeks
4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including alcohol use and buprenorphine treatment status

3 months
1 visit (in-person) at 1 month, 1 visit (in-person) at 3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Brief opioid-informed alcohol treatment

Trial Overview

The study is testing a brief intervention specifically designed for people in opioid agonist treatment who drink alcohol. The goal is to see if this tailored approach can improve outcomes related to their alcohol use and determine its feasibility and acceptability among patients.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Experimental: Brief opioid-informed alcohol treatmentExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Treatment As UsualActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Notre Dame

Lead Sponsor

Trials
36
Recruited
60,000+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials
865
Recruited
1,091,000+

Citations

A Brief Alcohol-focused Intervention Tailored for Patients in ...

This study will help determine the feasibility and acceptability of a brief opioid-informed alcohol intervention in patients receiving prescribed ...

Substance Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes

2020), other studies have reported recovery rates lower than 10% (Kelly et al. 2017). These inconsistent findings could be due to what it means ...

Brief interventions for unhealthy alcohol and other ...

Brief intervention may be most effective in injured patients who receive advice [68], drink more [69], and attribute their injuries to alcohol ...

Issue Brief: Medications for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders

Opioid and alcohol use disorder treatment medications are safe and effective. When taken as prescribed at an appropriate dose, these medications do not produce ...

Association of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment With Alcohol ...

These findings suggest that OUD medication is associated with fewer admissions for alcohol-related acute events in patients with OUD with co-occurring AUD.

Associations Between Primary Care-Delivered Alcohol ...

The current study examined whether receipt of alcohol-related brief intervention (BI) is associated with reduced risk of negative downstream opioid-related ...

Risky alcohol use among patients dispensed opioid ...

This study has identified rates and associated risk factors of risky alcohol use among a clinical sample of community pharmacy patients dispensed opioid ...

Alcohol Use Among Treatment-Seeking Individuals With ...

The results suggest that at the sample-balanced mean of day, age, gender, and education, the probability of opiate use was 94.85% for alcohol use days and 97.99 ...