Community-based program for youth with opioid use disorder
Houston Emergency Engagement System for Youths and Adolescents
PHASE4 · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston · NCT04811014
This study is testing a community program that helps young people with opioid use disorder get better treatment and support to see if it keeps them engaged in recovery and reduces overdoses.
Quick facts
| Phase | PHASE4 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Ages | 13 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Houston, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT04811014 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The Young Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System (Young HEROES) is a community-based initiative aimed at improving treatment engagement for youths and adolescents with opioid use disorder. This non-randomized cohort study recruits participants through assertive outreach, community referrals, and emergency department referrals, providing immediate access to medication for opioid use disorder, behavioral counseling, and peer recovery support. The study evaluates the effectiveness of these combined interventions on patient outcomes, focusing on engagement and retention in treatment, as well as the prevalence of opioid overdoses among youth in Houston.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are youths and adolescents who are opioid-dependent, willing to stop using opioids, and able to communicate in English.
Not a fit: Patients who are physiologically dependent on other substances requiring immediate medical attention or have severe medical conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve treatment retention and reduce opioid-related overdoses among youth.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar community-based approaches to opioid treatment, indicating potential for positive outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * In otherwise good health based on physician assessment and medical history * Drug screen positive for opioids * Patients express a willingness to stop opioid use * Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for opioid dependence * Patients must be able to speak English * Be agreeable to and capable of signing the informed consent and assent (parent or guardian must consent, minor must assent) Exclusion Criteria: * Non-English-speaking patients * Have a known sensitivity to buprenorphine or naloxone * Be physiologically dependent on alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other drugs of abuse that require immediate medical attention. Other substance use diagnoses are not exclusionary. * Have a medical condition that would, in the opinion of the study physician, make participation medically hazardous, including unstable cardiovascular disease, neurological deficits, trauma, acute hepatitis, stroke, and liver or renal disease) * Be acutely psychotic, severely depressed, and in need of inpatient treatment, or is an immediate suicide risk * Be a nursing or pregnant female
Where this trial is running
Houston, Texas
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Houston, Texas, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: James R Langabeer, PhD — The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
- Study coordinator: James R Langabeer, PhD
- Email: james.r.langabeer@uth.tmc.edu
- Phone: 713-500-3925
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Opioid-use Disorder, Opioid Dependence, Opioid Overdose, Opioid Use, Substance Use Disorders