Condition
Substance Use clinical trials and research
As of November 12, 2026, Find a Trial lists 46 Substance Use clinical trials that are recruiting, at sites in 6 countries (most in United States (40), Thailand (4), Canada (1)). By phase: Phase 2 (2), Phase 4 (1), Phase 1 (1). The most active sponsors are Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (5), Institute of HIV Research and Innovation Foundation, Thailand (4), Brown University (3). There are also 519 NIH-funded research projects on Substance Use, with $282.1 million in listed awards. Every study is explained in plain English. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov and NIH RePORTER, updated November 12, 2026.
- 46Clinical trials
- 519NIH research projects
- 6Countries
Newest Substance Use clinical trials
All recruiting trials (46)
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iPAWS: Helping teens manage pain and risky behaviors after wisdom tooth removal
This program tests a short online intervention to help teens and their parents handle post-surgical pain and reduce risky behaviors after wisdom tooth extraction.
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Returning to the Land intervention for families in a tribal community
This program tests a biodiverse outdoor intervention with a tribal community to help reduce caregiver substance use and support emotional/behavioral development in children ages 1–5, by engaging families where teens 14–19 participate.
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Connecting incarcerated adults with virtual peer recovery coaches to support addiction care
This trial tests whether a virtual peer recovery coach program helps people in jail link to and stick with addiction treatment compared to standard care.
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Screening and brief counseling for substance use in adult survivors of childhood cancer
This study tests whether a short, evidence-based substance-use screening plus a brief counseling session can be added into routine survivorship care for adult survivors of childhood cancer at St. Jude.
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Host-led harm reduction for men who have sex with men who engage in chemsex in Bangkok
This project will try a host-led harm reduction approach to reduce substance-related, sexual, mental health, and legal harms among men who have sex with men who engage in chemsex in Bangkok.
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Transgender-tailored harm reduction and PrEP service for people who engage in chemsex in Bangkok
This project will try a comprehensive harm-reduction service tailored for transgender and non-binary adults in Bangkok who engage in chemsex or substance use to increase PrEP use, reduce HIV/STIs, and address mental health and socio-legal needs.
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Adding sexual-pleasure conversations to harm reduction services for MSM and transgender people who do chemsex in Thailand
This project will try using a 'Pleasuremeter' to guide sexual-pleasure conversations in harm reduction services for MSM and transgender people who engage in chemsex or substance use in Thailand to see if it improves sexual health, substance use, and related outcomes.
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Developing transgender-tailored chemsex harm-reduction services in Thailand
This project will try to understand chemsex experiences among transgender adults in Thailand to help design harm-reduction services that meet their needs.
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Project REACH: Telehealth at syringe service programs to help people who use drugs access HIV-related care
A telehealth program at syringe service sites will try to connect adults who use drugs with HIV-related services to see if it is feasible and acceptable and may help them get care.
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Emotional Empowerment and Lifelong Strength for young Black adults
This pilot will try a 12-week, culturally tailored mental health education program to help young Black adults with past trauma better understand and manage trauma- and substance use–related mental health concerns.
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Brain imaging to predict teens' response to cannabis treatment
This project will test whether teens' brain activity during a learning task can predict how well 14–17-year-olds do in a 10-week virtual reward program to reduce cannabis use.
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Brain and behavior patterns of sign-tracking versus goal-tracking in young adults
We test whether differences in brain activity and behavior tied to 'sign-tracking' versus 'goal-tracking' help explain attention, impulse control, and reward responses in healthy 18–22-year-olds.
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Gii'Igoshimong — Sitting With Your First Family ceremonial program for Ojibwe/Anishinaabe adults
This project will test whether taking part in the Gii'igoshimong ceremony helps Ojibwe/Anishinaabe adults who used substances in the past 30 days reduce substance use and improve related mental health and protective factors.
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Pink Cloud app to support recovery after substance use treatment
This project will test whether the Pink Cloud smartphone app helps adults recovering from substance or alcohol use get more days sober and have fewer substance‑related problems.
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Understanding how anxiety affects substance use in adolescents
This study is trying to see how anxiety affects substance use in kids aged 12-14 by looking at their brain activity and stress responses.
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Culturally Grounded ENDS Prevention for Rural Hawaiian Youth
This project tests a culturally grounded ENDS prevention program for middle school students on Hawaiʻi Island to see if it helps reduce vaping and related substance use.
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Exploring health choices and wellness in teenagers
This study looks at how health choices and behaviors change in teenagers aged 13 to 16 by using a smartphone app and having discussions to better understand their wellness as they grow up.
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After-school program to improve cultural identity and prevent substance use in American Indian youth
This study tests whether an after-school program can help American Indian teens feel more connected to their culture and reduce substance use.
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Home Visiting and Digital Support to Help Postpartum Mothers with Substance Use
Aiming to see if digital screening and brief intervention, plus text reminders, can help postpartum mothers in home visiting programs reduce substance use.
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Collaborative care program for young Black and Latino men at risk for HIV
This study tests a new support program to help young Black and Latino men at risk for HIV start taking prevention medication and manage their substance use better.
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Intervention to reduce substance use among young Native American men
This study is testing a new program aimed at helping young Native American men aged 18-26 reduce their substance use by providing culturally relevant support.
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Intervention to help women with trauma-related conditions use HIV prevention medication
This study is testing a new program to help women dealing with trauma feel more comfortable using HIV prevention medication called PrEP while they receive mental health treatment.
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Improving pain care for veterans using a new pathway
This study is testing a new way to help case managers support veterans in managing their pain better by comparing standard training to extra help in using a specific pain care program.
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Peer support to improve HIV treatment adherence in high-risk populations
This study is testing whether a peer support program can help Black individuals who use substances and are living with or at high risk for HIV stick to their long-acting injectable treatments better than standard care.
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Peer education program for substance use and gender inclusion in Southern Africa
This study is testing a peer education program to see if it can help young people in Southern Africa reduce substance use and challenge traditional gender beliefs.
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Improving HIV services for justice-involved Black men and other key populations
This study is testing two different support programs to see if they can help Black men, transgender individuals, and women who have been involved with the justice system get better access to HIV care and job services.
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Psilocybin treatment for individuals with various psychiatric symptoms
This study is testing if a single dose of psilocybin can help people with different mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD feel better and improve their daily functioning.
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Culturally grounded parenting intervention for American Indian families
This study tests a new parenting program designed for American Indian and Alaska Native families to see if it helps improve parenting skills and family life compared to a standard information program.
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Motivational interviewing for male couples to reduce drug use and HIV risk
This study is testing whether a special conversation technique for male couples can help reduce drug use and lower the risk of HIV.
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Peer support program to improve health for women living with HIV
This study tests a program that combines therapy, exercise, and support from peers to help women living with HIV stick to their medications and improve their overall health.
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Behavioral intervention to improve PrEP adherence for women with substance use disorders
This study is testing a new support program to help Black and Hispanic women with substance use issues take their PrEP medication more regularly and effectively.
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A program to educate and support middle and high school students about substance use
This study is testing a new drug education program for middle and high school students who have broken school rules about substance use to see if it helps them make better choices about drugs.
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Culturally adapted treatment for substance use in Black youth involved in the justice system
This study is trying to create a new treatment for Black youth in the justice system who struggle with substance use, focusing on how discrimination and stress affect them.
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Comparing family-based and adolescent-only approaches to substance use intervention
This study is testing whether involving families in substance use treatment helps teenagers aged 12-17 do better than just using a standard approach that focuses only on the teens.
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Mobile app for teens and parents to reduce substance use
A teen-focused mobile app plus parent support is being tested to see if it helps teens reduce substance use and improve related mental health, with or without extra parent support, compared to receiving online resources.
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A program to support mental health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities
This study is testing a new program designed to help pregnant women and caregivers in American Indian and Alaska Native communities improve their mental health and coping skills.
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Comparing two programs to improve mental health in infants of substance-involved mothers
This study is testing which of two programs better helps mothers with substance use issues and their infants improve their mental health and relationships over two years.
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Bright Horizons program to reduce binge substance use in Native American adolescents
This project will test whether the Bright Horizons program can help reduce binge drinking and other substance use in Native American teens aged 12–17 who live on or near the Fort Apache Reservation.
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Holistic wellness program for individuals with HIV and LGBTQ+ community
This study tests a six-month wellness program designed to help people living with HIV and those in the LGBTQ+ community improve their health by offering support for mental health, substance use, and social connections.
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Improving outcomes for fathers and families at risk of substance misuse
This study is trying to see if extra support services can help fathers at risk of substance misuse in the Bronx improve their relationships with their children and manage their substance use better.
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Multi-level school intervention for LGBTQ youth
This study is testing a new program in high schools to see if it helps LGBTQ youth deal with bullying and improve their mental health and school environment.
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A program to help teens reduce cannabis and alcohol use
This study is testing a new computer program to help teens aged 13-17 cut down on their use of cannabis and alcohol.
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Promoting health and well-being in African American adolescents
This study is testing a program designed to help African American kids aged 10-13 and their families build resilience and improve health by strengthening family relationships and coping with stress.
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Technology-assisted parenting intervention for adolescents in substance use treatment
This study tests a new program that helps parents of teens in substance use treatment learn better parenting skills through technology to see if it can help their kids stay sober after treatment.
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Using brain stimulation to reduce alcohol cravings
This study is testing if a type of brain stimulation can help people with alcohol use disorder reduce their cravings and drinking behavior.
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Alcohol and sexual health education for young men
This study is testing whether different types of education on alcohol and sexual health can help young men stay safe from alcohol-related problems and STIs while they use a preventive HIV medication.
NIH-funded research (newest 40 of 519)
Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.
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Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
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Co-treated care for substance use and heart infection at UVMMC
A hospital-based project aims to improve how doctors and teams treat people with both substance use disorder and infective endocarditis during their hospital stay.
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Preventing Suicide Among Teens Who Use Substances in School Settings
Aims to see if how schools respond to substance-use incidents (like alcohol or drugs) can lower suicide risk among high‑risk students.
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People and Place: How geography affects HIV care and substance use in Los Angeles
Aims to understand how where you live in LA affects HIV care and substance use, and to adapt a proven intervention to help PLWH who use substances connect with better care.
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A crowdsourced, survivor-led approach to boost HIV/STI/HCV testing and overdose-prevention service use for sex trafficking survivors in NYC
A NYC-based study tests a survivor-driven digital messaging approach and at-home tests to help sex trafficking survivors increase HIV/STI/HCV testing and use overdose-prevention resources.
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Transforming prison care for HIV, HIV risk, and substance use disorders
A patient-friendly look at improving HIV care and prevention for people in state prisons, especially where substance use is common.
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Improving HIV Prevention and Substance Use Care after Sexual Assault for Adolescents and Young Adults
A pilot study aims to make HIV prevention and substance use support more available for teens and young adults who have experienced sexual violence.
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Commitment to Recovery: Alaska Native Community Needs for Substance Use Treatment
This grant supports a project in Alaska to understand and improve substance use and behavioral health services for Alaska Native peoples.
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Native-led health research center to improve pain, substance use, and mental health
A tribally owned clinical research center is being built to understand and improve chronic pain and related substance use and behavioral health issues in the Absentee Shawnee community.
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Genetic factors behind alcohol and opioid use disorders and depression in veterans
A study using genetic data from veterans to understand how genes contribute to co-occurring alcohol use, prescription opioid use, and depression.
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Genetics study of methamphetamine use disorder in Thai people
A genetics study in Thailand is looking at how genes may influence methamphetamine use disorder and related behaviors.
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Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (brief trauma treatment)
A brief trauma-focused therapy called Written Exposure Therapy is being studied to help veterans who have both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Preventing alcohol and drug problems in adults displaced by war
This project offers a short counseling program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help adults displaced by the war in Ukraine avoid unhealthy alcohol and drug use.
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Impact of maternal substance use on offspring neurobehavioral development
A study with pregnant people who use substances to understand how their immune system and the placenta affect their child’s brain development and behavior over time.
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PROTECT-ED: Rapid care connects people just released from jail to HIV and overdose prevention
A program in the emergency department helps people who just left jail get started on medications for opioid use disorder and HIV prevention right away and connect them to ongoing care.
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How county incarceration affects access to addiction treatment and outcomes
Researchers are looking at whether higher county jail and prison rates are linked to less available and used addiction treatment and worse outcomes for people with substance use problems.
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How social and community disadvantages affect HIV risk and substance use for young Black men and transgender women
Researchers will survey 2,700 young men who have sex with men and transgender women across five U.S. cities to learn how social networks, neighborhoods, and access to resources relate to HIV risk and substance use.
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Web-based training to treat PTSD and substance use together in Veterans
A web-based training resource helps VA clinicians learn how to provide integrated treatment for Veterans with both PTSD and substance use disorders.
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Mobile health support to help Veterans with substance use disorders function better after treatment
A smartphone app, based on Motivational Enhancement Therapy, is being developed to help Veterans stay on track and function better after leaving residential substance use treatment.
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AI-augmented care to guide hospital treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders
A hospital-based AI tool helps clinicians decide and guide treatment for patients with opioid or alcohol use disorders in ED and inpatient settings.
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Adaptive design optimization to build quick, reliable behavioral tests for substance use disorders
A researcher team will test a smarter way to measure thinking, motivation, and emotions in people with substance use issues, using quick, precise tasks.
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Adaptive design-optimized behavioral tasks for substance use disorders
A new project will use smart, data-driven methods to quickly and reliably measure brain- and behavior-related traits in people with substance use disorders.
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New statistical methods to study brain networks in substance use and addiction
A small, focused project will develop and test new brain-imaging analysis methods to identify biomarkers linked to substance use risk and addiction, using resting-state MRI data from people with autistic disorder.
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Understanding how risk pathways lead to early substance use in youth using machine learning
A secondary data study using ABCD data to map diverse paths that could lead 9-year-olds toward starting substance use, with advanced analytics to find different subgroups.
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Substance use in pregnancy: boosting retention in treatment with incentives
A research project tests whether giving incentives helps pregnant people stay in substance-use treatment and reduce overdose risk.
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Helping families coping with overdose bereavement and substance use support
A patient-friendly program tests a peer grief support approach to help people who lost loved ones to overdose and may also help reduce risky substance use.
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Preventing unhealthy substance use in recently displaced adults
This project will create and try a short program to help prevent risky drinking and drug use among adults who were recently forced to leave their homes because of the war in Ukraine.
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Emotion Regulation Help for Youth in Child Welfare to Prevent Substance Use
A tablet-based program helps early adolescents in the child welfare system learn emotion regulation skills to reduce future substance use.
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Justice Core: Helping pregnant women with substance use get treatment while in jail
A pragmatic trial will test whether a jail diversion program (Justice Core) improves access to treatment and perinatal outcomes for pregnant women with substance use issues compared to usual referral after jail release.
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Understanding Alcohol Use in Teens and Young Adults with Autism
A study following autistic teens and young adults to understand how and when alcohol use starts and grows over time.
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Self-management Apps with AI to Help Emerging Adults Reduce Substance Use and Costs
A new AI-powered self-management program for 18- to 25-year-olds with substance use issues aims to reduce use, overdoses, and costs by delivering scalable, smartphone-based support.
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Understanding ADHD Stimulant Use and Teen Substance Outcomes
A long-term study following adolescents with ADHD to see how different patterns of stimulant treatment relate to later substance use risks and outcomes.
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Understanding substance use in young adult cancer survivors
A short study to learn why young adults who survived cancer use alcohol or drugs, so doctors can tailor better help.
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Improving access to alcohol and substance use care for young adult women in family planning clinics
A new project will test better ways to screen and help young adult women with alcohol and substance use in women’s health and family-planning clinics.
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Adapting with Proactive SUD Intervention via Disease Intervention Specialists
A new program uses a proven outreach model to identify and connect people with substance use disorder to care earlier, by applying DIS tactics to SUD in communities.
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Community-based prevention for ACEs and substance use impact
A community-wide program tests how combining family supports with trauma-informed help can reduce substance use and related childhood adversity in communities that are hardest hit.
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ED-based Screening and Brief Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Disorder
A Purdue-led project will test if ED-based screening plus a brief in-person motivational talk and follow-up telehealth coaching can reduce risky substance use and prevent future disorder in diverse adults.
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Connecting Primary Care to SUD Treatment with Telehealth Collaborative Care
A Mayo Clinic study tests a telehealth-based collaborative care platform to help primary care clinics identify and treat substance use disorders in rural adults.
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STOP Unhealthy Substance Use Now: Faster, Better Primary Care for SUDs
A practical plan to help primary care clinics screen for and manage substance use disorders more effectively using different support methods.
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Decoding peptidergic programming of the dopamine epigenome in substance use disorder
Aims to understand how peptide signals change dopamine-related brain changes that contribute to substance use disorder and why this makes treating the condition hard.
Related topics
Quick answers
How many Substance Use clinical trials are recruiting right now?
46, as of November 12, 2026. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Where are these trials running?
In 6 countries. The most sites are in United States (40 trials), Thailand (4 trials), Canada (1 trial), South Africa (1 trial), Zambia (1 trial). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.
What phases are they in?
Phase 2: 2, Phase 4: 1, Phase 1: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.
How do I join one?
Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.
Find the studies that fit you
A list is a starting point. Tell us your situation in your own words and we'll rank the studies that match and explain why. It's free and needs no account.