Active clinical trials for "Substance-Related Disorders"

This study will measure the brain activity of adolescent substance abusers while they make decisions about their preferences to receive smaller, immediate rewards versus larger delayed rewards. The investigators expect that patterns of brain activity while engaged in this decision making task will predict response to treatment among adolescent substance users. The investigators expect to use the results of this study to develop more effective treatments for adolescent substance abuse

The purpose of this study is to expand and continue a cohort of HIV-infected adults to establish the longitudinal Boston ARCH Cohort of 250 HIV-infected men and women with current substance dependence or ever injection drug use that have a spectrum of alcohol use; and to determine the effect of alcohol consumption on changes in bone health prospectively in the Cohort.

Purpose: This is an outpatient, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in which either varenicline (twice daily) or placebo will be administered over a 12 week study period to examine genetic influences on treatment response to varenicline for reduction of hazardous drinking.

Previous intravenous drug abusers with chronic hepatitis C who are under substitution therapy (buprenorphine, methadone) will be treated with PegIntron and Rebetol according to the approved European labeling. The study will assess the tolerability, safety and efficacy of the treatment with PegIntron plus Rebetol in this study population. The objective of the study is to collect data on the prevalence of the hepatitis C infections in drug-substituted patients. The study will also compare the feasibility of HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) treatment in patients receiving Subutex® vs other drug substitution pharmacotherapies.

We will evaluate a series of interventions intended to help individuals who drop out of substance abuse treatment re-engage in order to improve treatment outcome.

Background: - The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) is interested in developing a pool of potential research participants who may be eligible for research studies on drug abuse and addiction, pharmacological and psychosocial therapies for substance addiction, drug abuse and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and the long-term effects of drugs on the development, function, and structure of the brain and other organ systems. To develop this pool of potential participants, researchers intend to screen individuals who may be eligible for future research studies. Objectives: - To identify, recruit, and screen participants for NIDA collaborative research protocols. Eligibility: - Individuals 18 years of age and older who are able to provide informed consent. Design: Eligible participants will undergo two screening interviews: a telephone interview and an in-person interview. The phone interview will determine eligibility for the in-person interview. The in-person interview, which may require up to five visits to the clinical center, will involve any or all of the following procedures: (1) full physical examination and medical history; (2) psychiatric interview; (3) psychological testing; (4) electrocardiogram; (5) samples of blood, urine, and hair; and (6) other minimally invasive procedures as directed by the research staff. Participants will provide a photograph for confirmation of identity for subsequent visits and protocols. No clinical care will be provided under this protocol.

Background: - Nicotine addiction is common among people who smoke tobacco, and the addictive properties of nicotine make smoking cessation difficult even for people who want to quit. Research has shown that smoking causes changes in the brain that lead to addiction and craving, but more research is needed to determine how different doses of nicotine and different intervals of receiving nicotine affect brain function. A greater understanding of nicotine's effect on the brain, as studied through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), may improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation therapies and treatments. Objectives: - To determine the effects of nicotine on brain function and chemistry in experienced cigarette smokers. Eligibility: - Current smokers (at least 20 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year) between 18 and 50 years of age. Design: The study involves five separate research experiments. Most participants will be involved in only one experiment. The experiments will evaluate brain activity and function using fMRI. Participants will be trained in a series of tests on cognitive function before beginning the experimental part of the study. Experiment 1: Participants will have three fMRI scan sessions after receiving different dose levels of intravenous nicotine. Experiment 2: Participants will have four fMRI scan sessions after receiving two doses of nicotine separated by 1/4, 1/2, 3, and 24 hours. Experiment 3: Participants will have two sets of nicotine injections separated by 45 minutes, with each injection series containing five rapid injections of small amounts of nicotine (to mimic five puffs on a cigarette). Experiment 4: Participants will have three fMRI sessions after receiving a single injection of nicotine at three different rates (over 15, 60, or 120 seconds). In addition there will be three more sessions involving a nicotine patch and a nicotine injection as well as a placebo session. Experiment 5: Participants will have three fMRI sessions that will involve looking at different kinds of pictures related to or not related to smoking after receiving a single injection of nicotine. Participants will also provide blood samples for further study....

Background: Children who enter the foster care system are all too often exposed to illicit drugs in the home. Children from these homes, known as drug endangered children, are not routinely tested for harmful substances. Any short- and long-term physical or developmental problems they may experience as a result of this exposure often go undetected and untreated. Children who are placed into protective custody are not always screened by physicians or nurse practitioners. Although drug-endangered children under 18 years of age automatically receive a urine toxicology screen to determine the types and levels of illicit drugs in their systems, this procedure has difficulties and limitations that may affect the quality of the data. Researchers are interested in developing more effective methods of analyzing the presence or absence of illicit environmental drug exposure in children. Objectives: - To determine the most effective method of identifying long-term illicit stimulant drug exposure in drug-endangered children. Eligibility: - Children under 18 years of age who are being placed into protective custody after having been found in a home where drugs are manufactured, used, or sold. Design: Researchers will gain verbal consent for the procedure for children who are 7 years of age or older. Children younger than 7 years of age will not be required to give verbal consent for sample collection. Researchers will collect standard urine samples for toxicological screening. Part of the sample will be sent to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for evaluation; the rest will remain with the local authority. In addition to this standard procedure, researchers will collect a hair sample by cutting a small amount of hair from the crown of the head as close to the root as possible (and not pulling any hair out of the child's head). Researchers will also use an oral swab to collect a saliva sample from the inside cheek of each child. No clinical care will be provided under this protocol....

Cocaine dependence is a major public health problem; an effective primary treatment for cocaine dependent individuals has yet to be found. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate aspects of treatment response in cocaine dependent individuals.

The proposed study will compare three alternative interventions in the emergency department (ED) to promote linkage to substance abuse assessment, referral and treatment entry for those who meet abuse/dependence criteria for stimulants, cannabis, and/or non-injected opioids: (1) a 5-session Strengths-Based Case Management (SBCM) model; (2) a 2-session Brief Motivational Enhancement (BME); or (3) a one-time Brief Informational Feedback (BIF) session. The primary outcome variables for this trial include receiving an assessment and referral and treatment entry. Other outcomes include degree of treatment completion, substance-related measures, health service utilization, health status changes, and psychosocial factors.