Benefits of reducing methamphetamine use

Advancing Non-Abstinence Outcomes in the Treatment of Methamphetamine Use Disorder

This study will try contingency management to see if cutting back on methamphetamine improves physical, mental, and social health for adults with moderate-to-severe methamphetamine use disorder.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 300 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Kentucky (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Lexington, Kentucky)
• Trial ID: NCT07226596 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with moderate-to-severe methamphetamine use disorder who provide a methamphetamine-positive urine at screening will receive a 12-week contingency management intervention and be followed for an additional 12 weeks. The trial focuses on non‑abstinence outcomes by measuring biological, psychological, and social changes associated with reduced use rather than requiring complete abstinence. Outcomes include urine drug tests, clinical symptom ratings, and standardized measures of physical and mental health, functioning, and quality of life. The aim is to document whether reductions in use produce meaningful biopsychosocial benefits that could support broader endpoints in future treatment development.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (aged 18 and older) who report recent methamphetamine use, provide a methamphetamine-positive urine at screening, meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate-to-severe methamphetamine use disorder, are seeking treatment, and can commit to the 12-week intervention plus 12-week follow-up are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions, severe untreated other substance use disorders requiring medically managed detoxification, or those unable to attend in-person visits may not benefit or may be excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could show that cutting back on methamphetamine leads to real health and social improvements and broaden acceptable treatment goals.

How similar studies have performed: Contingency management has been shown to reduce stimulant use in prior studies, but few trials have systematically demonstrated broader biopsychosocial benefits from reduced (non‑abstinent) use.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* be age 18 years or older;
* self-report methamphetamine use in the week prior to screening;
* provide a methamphetamine-positive urine sample at screening;
* meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate-severe Methamphetamine Use Disorder (MUD);
* be seeking treatment for their methamphetamine use
* be able and willing to commit to the 12-week intervention, as well as the 12-week post-intervention follow-up
* Individuals who meet these criteria and are stably maintained on buprenorphine or methadone for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) will also be eligible to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* current or past medical or psychiatric illness (e.g., physical dependence on any drug other than buprenorphine requiring medically managed detoxification, unstable angina, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, aortic stenosis, self-reported compromised immune function, severe diagnosis for a SUD other than MUD or treated OUD) that would interfere with study participation in the opinion of the study physicians
* poor venous access precluding blood draws

Where this trial is running

Lexington, Kentucky

• Psychopharmacology of Addiction Laboratory — Lexington, Kentucky, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: William W Stoops, PhD — University of Kentucky
• Study coordinator: William W Stoops, PhD

Conditions Methamphetamine Use Disorder; methamphetamine; treatment; behavioral intervention