Substance abuse clinical trials aim to gather information, create insights, and offer solutions for the underlying cause of this condition. There is no cure for SUDs, but substance use disorder clinical trials aim to provide people with solutions to live a life free from the constant threat of substances.

If you’re considering drug addiction clinical trials for yourself or for a close family member, there are paid substance abuse research studies underway at a variety of hospitals and medical research centers. Let’s provide some insight now into this condition and the current options available to you.

Finding Addiction Clinical Trials Near Me: Specialized Treatment Options

One of the complexities of SUDs is that they involve various types of substances that interact with the brain in various ways. No single treatment works in the same way. Treatment must be specific to the type of substance being used, the length of time using it, the dependency type, and the long-term impact. Consider some examples of the current clinical trials available.

By Substance and Condition

Opioid addiction clinical trials include:

Long-acting Naltrexone for Pre-release Prisoners

This study, sponsored by the Friends Research Institute, Inc., is a five-year study currently enrolling that aims to determine if the use of extended-release naltrexone injections (XR-NTX) is effective if given at a patient’s place of residence. Various opioid use disorder medication trials exist to explore new or better treatment plans.

Smartphones for Opiate Addiction Recovery (SOAR)

This study, currently enrolling through the sponsorship of NYU Langone Health, wants to find out if the use of a smartphone app can help clinicians monitor and adjust the use of buprenorphine and methadone dosing based on how a patient feels by tracking them.

Alcohol use disorder clinical trials are another important example.

Alcohol use disorder is one of the most common types of substance use disorders and one of the most fascinating since not everyone who consumes alcohol develops an addiction. Consider the following options:

Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Effectiveness of V117957 in Subjects with Insomnia Associated with Alcohol Cessation

This study aims to determine whether the use of a medication can help people who suffer from insomnia during alcohol cessation to get relief. It’s currently enrolling through the Rochester Mayo Clinic.

A Study to Evaluate the Safety of Acamprosate for Alcohol Use Disorder

Another clinical study involving alcohol use disorder out of the Rochester Mayo Clinic is looking at the use of acamprosate, a type of medication, and how it may help those with both alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related liver disease to see improvement.

Cocaine and Methamphetamine Treatment Research

Substance abuse studies for multiple drugs are also growing in importance as people use various drugs at the same time. One unique aspect is the cocaine and methamphetamine treatment research being done. It focuses on the use of stimulants to treat dependence on either of these drugs as a way to replace one drug with another. This study is being conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Treatment Types Being Studied

Numerous strategies exist to potentially treat SUDs and their complications. Consider the following examples of medication-assisted treatment clinical trials for SUDs.

Buprenorphine and Methadone Clinical Trials

The University of New York at Buffalo conducted this study to look at the use of prescription opioids, often used to treat chronic back pain, and managing the addiction risks associated with the condition.

Naltrexone and Acamprosate Research

Researchers are working to understand the effectiveness of using both naltrexone and acamprosate to treat those with alcohol use disorder. Studies related to these drugs have been underway for decades to better understand the relationship between them and the outcome of substance use disorders, including one completed by the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California.

Contingency Management for Stimulant Use Disorder

Another interesting treatment for SUDs focuses on the use of contingency management, a type of evidence-based treatment model that offers motivational incentives that help those living with stimulant use disorder to be rewarded for not using the substance. While research is underway to continue to understand this process, organizations such as the California Department of Health Care Services are already putting treatment plans into place.

Digital and App-Based Addiction Treatment Trials

Controlling addiction with an app? It is possible. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is working on the association between using smartphone app-based contingency management and medication to help those with opioid use disorder.

How to Join a Substance Abuse Clinical Trial

For many people facing addiction, treatment in a professional detoxification and residential treatment center seems like the only option. When that doesn’t work, often due to the high rate of relapse, many give up. Instead, seek out clinical trials near you, specific to the type of substance you are facing.

What to Expect in a Drug Addiction Clinical Trial

Every clinical trial is a bit different in the way it works and in eligibility. Read through the details provided by those sponsoring the trial to learn more about what will be required of you, such as counseling sessions, checking in on an app, or interacting with various devices to monitor your health. Always learn the risks and benefits of substance use clinical trials from those sponsoring them, so you fully understand what you are facing.

If you are one of the many people struggling to find help for an SUD, consider these options. Clinical trial compensation for addiction studies may be available to you for participating in some of these programs. Learn more about how these programs can work to help you find your best way forward.