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Optimizing treatment strategies for opioid use disorder

NIDA-CTN-0100: Optimizing Retention, Duration and Discontinuation Strategies for Opioid Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy (RDD)

Phase 2 Interventional NYU Langone Health · NCT04464980

This study is testing different ways to help people with opioid use disorder stick to their treatment and safely stop using medication when they're ready.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment2190 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorNYU Langone Health Academic / other
Locations21 sites (Little Rock, Arkansas and 20 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04464980 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of various pharmacological and behavioral interventions to enhance treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). It consists of two phases: the Retention Phase focuses on improving patient retention on medications like buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone, while the Discontinuation Phase evaluates strategies for safely discontinuing these medications without relapse. The study employs a multicenter, randomized, pragmatic non-blinded design to assess outcomes and develop predictive models based on patient characteristics.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older who meet DSM-5 criteria for current opioid use disorder and are seeking treatment.

Not a fit: Patients who do not meet the criteria for opioid use disorder or those who are not seeking treatment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment retention and safer discontinuation strategies for patients with opioid use disorder.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in optimizing treatment strategies for opioid use disorder, but this approach includes novel elements that have not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria for Retention Phase:

1. 18 years of age or older;
2. Meet DSM-5 criteria for current opioid use disorder (heroin, fentanyl or other synthetic opioids, and/or prescription opioids);
3. Seeking treatment for opioid use disorder and choosing either buprenorphine (BUP) or extended-release injection naltrexone (XR-NTX);
4. If choosing buprenorphine, willing to be randomized to SL-BUP-16mg, SL-BUP-32mg, or XR-BUP;
5. Willing to be randomized to either MM (standard Medical Management plus counseling treatment as usual available at the site) or MMR (MM plus usual counseling and access to an app delivering CM + CBT);
6. In good-enough general health (meaning good enough health to be in outpatient treatment) as determined by the study medical clinician on the basis of medical history, review of systems, and physical/mental status exam, to permit treatment with XR-NTX or BUP;
7. Willing and able to provide written informed consent;
8. Able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures;
9. If female of childbearing potential, willing to practice an effective method of birth control for the duration of participation in the study (participants who become pregnant during the study will continue to be followed; treatment may be modified consistent with pregnancy).

Exclusion Criteria for Retention Phase:

1. Serious medical, psychiatric, or co-occurring substance use disorder or concomitant medication that, in the opinion of the study medical clinician, makes the patient not appropriate for outpatient treatment with buprenorphine or XR-NTX, but instead requires a higher or different level of care. Examples include:

   1. Disabling or terminal medical illness (e.g., uncompensated heart failure, cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease) as assessed by medical history, review of systems, physical exam and/or laboratory assessments;
   2. Severe, untreated or inadequately treated psychiatric condition (e.g., active psychosis, uncontrolled bipolar disorder) as assessed by history and/or clinical interview, requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization);
   3. Current severe alcohol, benzodiazepine, or other depressant or sedative hypnotic use, requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization);
2. Suicidal or homicidal ideation or behavior requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization);
3. Known allergy or sensitivity to preferred medication or its components;
4. Maintenance on methadone at the time of signing consent;
5. For those preferring XR-NTX, presence of pain of sufficient severity as to require ongoing pain management with opioids;
6. For those preferring XR-NTX, body habitus that, in the judgment of the study physician, precludes safe intramuscular injection of XR-NTX (e.g., BMI\>40, excess fat tissue over the buttocks, emaciation);
7. If female, currently pregnant or breastfeeding or planning on conception;
8. Are currently in jail, prison or other overnight facility as required by court of law or have pending legal action that could prevent participation in study activities;
9. Have used the reSET-O or CHESS Connections mHealth apps in the 3 months prior to consent;
10. Other major reasons that might prevent an individual from participating in the study (e.g., a planned move out of the area).

Inclusion Criteria for Discontinuation Phase:

1. 18 years of age or older;
2. Have been receiving buprenorphine for OUD for at least the past year or XR-NTX pharmacotherapy for OUD for at least the past 6 months prior to consent for the Discontinuation Phase;
3. Express the desire to discontinue MOUD after a shared decision-making discussion with the treating provider;
4. Meet stability criteria, i.e., have abstained from opioids (other than buprenorphine), cocaine, methamphetamine, and non-prescribed benzodiazepines for the past ≥12 weeks, and do not meet DSM-5 criteria for current (≥12 weeks) alcohol use disorder (participants with cannabis use will be eligible);
5. If currently taking buprenorphine, are willing to take either SL-BUP or XR-BUP if randomized to that condition;
6. Willing to be randomized to either MM or to MMD;
7. Able to provide written informed consent after discussion with their provider regarding the risks of discontinuation;
8. Able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures;
9. If female of childbearing potential, willing to practice an effective method of birth control while in the study and taking study medication (participants who become pregnant during the study will continue to be followed; treatment may be modified consistent with pregnancy).

Exclusion Criteria for Discontinuation Phase:

1. Serious medical or psychiatric disorder or concomitant medication that, in the opinion of the study medical clinician, would make study participation hazardous to the participant or compromise study findings or would prevent the participant from completing the study. Examples include:

   1. Disabling or terminal medical illness (e.g., uncompensated heart failure, cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease) as assessed by medical history, review of systems, physical exam and/or laboratory assessments;
   2. Severe, untreated, or inadequately treated psychiatric condition (e.g., active psychosis, uncontrolled bipolar disorder) as assessed by history and/or clinical interview, requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization);
2. Suicidal or homicidal ideation or behavior requiring a different level of care (e.g., hospitalization);
3. For participants entering the study taking buprenorphine, presence of pain requiring or likely requiring ongoing pain management with buprenorphine or other opioids;
4. If female, currently pregnant or breastfeeding or planning on conception;
5. Use of opioids (other than buprenorphine), cocaine, methamphetamine, or non-prescribed benzodiazepines in the past 12 weeks;
6. Meets current DSM-5 criteria for any current alcohol use disorder;
7. Are currently in jail, prison or other overnight facility as required by court of law or have pending legal action that could prevent participation in study activities;
8. Have used the Connections mHealth app in the 3 months prior to consent (other than Connections in the Retention Phase);
9. Other major reasons that might prevent an individual from participating in the study (e.g., a planned move out of the area.

Where this trial is running

Little Rock, Arkansas and 20 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Opioid Use Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.