Ketamine-assisted mindfulness to help people on buprenorphine who keep relapsing
Official title: Targeting Treatment-Resistant OUD with Ketamine-Assisted Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11323785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether adding ketamine to a mindfulness-based program (MORE) can help people on buprenorphine who continue to struggle with opioid use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,837,540 |
| NIH project number | 7UG3DA062106-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults on buprenorphine for opioid use disorder who continue to use opioids despite treatment and are willing to attend in-person ketamine sessions and therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People not currently on buprenorphine, those without opioid use disorder, individuals with medical contraindications to ketamine, or those unable to attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
If you are on buprenorphine but continue to use opioids, this randomized Phase 2 trial will compare intramuscular ketamine plus Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) to MORE plus intramuscular diphenhydramine as an active placebo. You would receive supervised injections and attend MORE therapy sessions while researchers monitor safety, drug use, and psychological and physiological responses. The team will measure early signs of benefit, track side effects, and study how ketamine might boost mindfulness, reduce craving, and lower relapse risk. The trial is run at UC San Diego and targets people with treatment-resistant opioid use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce opioid use and relapse for people on buprenorphine by combining medication with targeted mindfulness therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Pilot data from this team and prior research on ketamine for mood disorders and MORE for opioid misuse suggest promise, but a randomized Phase 2 trial is needed to confirm benefits.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garland, Eric Lee — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Garland, Eric Lee
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.