Text reminders and mindfulness messages to support people taking opioid medications
Integrating Mindfulness and mHealth Approaches for Treating Opioid Use Disorder
This project will test whether daily medication reminder texts plus up to six mindfulness messages per day help people taking medications for opioid use disorder stick to their medication and manage cravings, pain, and withdrawal.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of New Mexico Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Albuquerque, New Mexico) |
| Trial ID | NCT07350148 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-site, interventional trial enrolls 60 adults who recently started or restarted daily methadone or buprenorphine and delivers daily medication reminder texts for at least 24 weeks and up to six mindfulness texts per day for a four-week period. The study uses a micro-randomized design so participants are randomized each day to receive a varying number (0–6) of mindfulness messages, with twice-daily self-report questions collected during the mindfulness period. Primary outcomes include self-reported medication adherence and changes in craving, pain/pain interference, and withdrawal symptoms; secondary measures include message engagement, state mindfulness, values-based living, substance misuse, and self-efficacy. Data are collected at baseline and at months 1, 2, and 6 to track short- and longer-term effects.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) within six months of starting or restarting daily methadone or buprenorphine who have a cellphone that receives texts, internet access for surveys, and can provide informed consent are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People not taking daily medications for opioid use disorder, those without a cellphone or internet access, or those needing more intensive in-person care are unlikely to benefit from this text-message intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase medication adherence and reduce craving, pain, or withdrawal symptoms using low-cost, scalable text messaging.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mobile health and text-message interventions have shown modest improvements in medication adherence and symptoms in substance use and other chronic conditions, but using a daily micro-randomized mindfulness texting approach for MOUD is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Have a cellphone that can receive text messages * Have internet access to complete study surveys * Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study * Within 6 months of starting or resuming to take daily methadone or buprenorphine (or suboxone/subutex) * Able to understand study requirements and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * None
Where this trial is running
Albuquerque, New Mexico
- University of New Mexico — Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Frank Schwebel, PhD
- Email: fschwebel@unm.edu
- Phone: 505-456-3014
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.